Alberta's Ministry of Forestry and Parks has been charged under the OHS Act in connection with the 2024 death of Morgan Kitchen, a 24-year-old wildland firefighter who was fatally struck by a tree while battling a wildfire in Jasper National Park. The charges, laid on July 29, allege six workplace safety violations, including failure to assess and control hazards at the worksite and inadequate training of workers. This marks two years after Kitchen's death, which occurred during the Jasper Wildfire Complex that destroyed 358 structures in the townsite. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has welcomed the charges as a step towards holding the province accountable for workplace safety.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Alberta's Ministry of Forestry and Parks has been charged with six workplace safety violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with the death of Morgan Kitchen, 24, who was fatally struck by a tree while fighting a wildfire in Jasper National Park on August 3, 2024. The charges, laid on July 29, allege that the ministry failed to adequately assess and control hazards at the worksite, train workers, and prevent harm to employees like Kitchen. This is the second major development in the case: earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed against the province by Kitchen's family.
Written for “Alberta Wildfire Charges Laid” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article uses neutral language to report on the charges laid against Alberta Forestry and Parks, but phrases such as 'failed to ensure the safety of workers' and 'alleged workplace safety violations under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act' suggest a slightly critical tone towards the government's handling of worker safety. However, this tone is tempered by quotes from both the union representative and the Ministry's press secretary, which present more balanced perspectives on the issue.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score -0.20 for article 423 · logged 2026-08-05
Alberta Forestry and Parks charged under OHS Act over 2024 death of man battling Jasper wildfire
Morgan Kitchen, 24, was fatally struck by a tree in Jasper in 2024
Two years after a man died while fighting a wildfire in Jasper National Park, workplace safety charges have been laid against Alberta's Ministry of Forestry and Parks in connection with his death.
asserted
charges → charge → death
Morgan Kitchen, 24, of Calgary was fatally struck by a tree on Aug. 3, 2024, while working as a wildland firefighter after the Jasper townsite went up in flames.
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townsite → strike → flames
Charges laid against the ministry — Kitchen’s employer — revolve around a string of alleged workplace safety violations under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.
The six charges, laid on July 29, allege the Alberta government failed to ensure the safety of workers by not adequately assessing and controlling hazards at the worksite and also failing to adequately train workers.
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government → lay → workers
OHS also alleged the province failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, like cutting down hazardous trees or establishing a no-work zone.
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province → allege → zone
James Gault is a vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), which represents wildland firefighters like Kitchen.
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which → represent → Kitchen
He said the AUPE is glad OHS is pursuing charges against the province.
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OHS → say → province
“Our members are in dangerous situations,” he told CBC News on Tuesday.
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he → tell → Tuesday
Gault said he believes Kitchen’s death highlights the impact workplace deaths can have on a community, noting the incident left his colleagues shaken.
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incident → say → colleagues
“What we have to remember first is Morgan Kitchen was a person, right?
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Kitchen → remember → What
He's not a statistic,” said Gault.
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Gault → say → ?
“It's a reminder that our members face risk every day that they go to work.”
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they → face → work
In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, Arthur Green, press secretary for the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services, said the province is aware charges have been laid against Alberta Forestry and Parks.
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charges → say → Forestry
Alberta’s government will not comment further on the allegations or legal proceedings as the matter is now before the courts, Green said.
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Green → comment → courts
“Our thoughts remain with our Alberta Wildfire colleague’s family, friends and co-workers,” he said.
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he → remain → family
We remain committed to providing a safe workplace for our staff.”
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We → remain → staff
In 2024, the Jasper Wildfire Complex Unified Command, composed of members of Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper, issued a statement that said Kitchen’s crew administered first aid before Jasper National Park and Alberta Wildfire employees used a wheeled stretcher to bring him to a nearby helipad.
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crew → compose → helipad
From there, Kitchen was flown to the Parks Canada operations compound in Jasper, where a STARS Air Ambulance helicopter was waiting.
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helicopter → fly → Jasper
He was pronounced dead shortly after.
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He → pronounce → ?
The 2024 wildfire destroyed 358 structures in the Jasper townsite — about one-third of its total buildings.
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wildfire → destroy → buildings
