Line of Duty Deaths Database

Cyril R. Fyfe
Name
Cyril R. Fyfe
Local
L2890, Yellowknife Fire Fighters
Gender
Male
Age
41
District
06
Occupation
Lieutenant
Type of Duty
Fire Suppression
Fatal Injury Cause
Caught/Trapped - Collapsing Roof
Nature of Fatal Injury
Other/Miscellaneous - Asphyxiation, Smoke Inhalation
Date of Death
3/21/2005
Year Placed On Wall
2005
Multiple Line of Duty Incident
Name
Yellowknife, NWT 3-05
City/State
Yellowknife, NT
Date
3/17/2005
Summary
Two fire fighters, Lieutenant Cyril Fyfe, 41 and Fire Fighter Kevin Olsen, 24, died when the roof of a burning shed collapsed on top of them while they battling the blaze. Four other firefighters were atop the roof, cutting holes for ventilation, when it gave way.
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Website Comments
march 22, 2005

it is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty death of two of our members from local 2890 – yellowknife, northwest territory. fire fighter kevin olson died on thursday, march 17, 2005 and lieutenant cyril fyfe died yesterday, monday, march 21, 2005. tentative cause of those deaths is asphyxiation after a roof collapsed while battling a fire on march 17th.

the funeral service for brother olson will be held on thursday, march 24, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at the centre street church, 3900 – 2nd street, ne, calgary, alberta t2e 9c1, (403) 293-3900. a memorial trust fund for fire fighter olson is being set up at a td bank in calgary. for further details regarding how contributions can be made to the trust fund, visit www.city.yellowknife.nt.ca/home.html.

funeral service for brother fyfe is tentatively planned for early next week. however, the members of local 2890 and the yellowknife fire department are planning to have a joint memorial service for brothers olson and fyfe in yellowknife. the members of local 2890 are urging that all fire fighters and union representatives attend the memorial service. again, no date is set, but the service may be the day after the family funeral of brother fyfe.

as soon as we have the specific information on the memorial service we will contact you with the dates, venue and accommodation information.

for those that are not aware, yellowknife is in the northwest territories of canada, close to the artic circle. it is about 1,200 miles north of calgary and a 22-hour drive. air travel is very limited and is either through calgary or edmonton, alberta on commuter airlines—no major airlines have service into yellowknife. it is approximately a three hour flight from either location.
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Biographical Comments
Cyril is the type of person you would be proud to know, with his incredible sense of humor, easy going nature, love for his family and his passion for being a fire fighter. He joined the Yellowknife Fire Department as a volunteer in 1987, began his career fulltime in 1989, was promoted to Senior Fire Fighter in 1997 and Lieutenant in 2002. His fellow fire fighters referred to him as a "Fireman's Fireman" - the kind of guy you wanted with you when crawling down a charged hallway. Along with his love for family, he was a dedicated fisherman. On days off you would find him at the fire hall having coffee with his buddies or in his boat with this family. Cyril had a laugh that was contagious, making everyone around him smile. He is hghly respected and loved by his entire family, brother fire fighters and the whole community of Yellowknife. He is deeply missed and forever in our hearts.
(Submitted by the Fyfe Family for the 2005 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial)
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