The Crescent Valley fire department is mourning the loss of one of its own.
Firefighter Kyle Zarchikoff was killed in a highway crash south of Grande Prairie, Alta. last week.
A memo circulated to Regional District of Central Kootenay staff said: “Kyle has been a dedicated and valued member of the Crescent Valley fire department for over five years. He was a young and vibrant individual who will be sorely missed by those who knew him.”
Crescent Valley fire chief Clayton Roy wrote in a Facebook post: “On behalf of the Crescent Valley fire hall and all RDCK halls we offer our condolences and support to Kyle's family and friends in this difficult time.”
RCMP say Zarchikoff was the driver of a pick-up truck that collided with a logging truck about 5 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 40, about 50 km south of Grande Prairie.
Zarchikoff, the lone occupant of his vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the logging truck was not physically injured.
An RCMP collision analyst was called to the scene to determine what happened. Police said initial indications are that the northbound semi collided with the southbound pick-up truck, and road conditions may have been a factor.
Zarchikoff was working in Alberta as an oilfield paramedic.
In a Facebook post, Zarchikoff's mother Sharon called her son a "brave young man" whose "sole purpose was to help save lives, and although my heart aches at never being able to hug him and tell him how much I love him, I know he died doing what he loved best."
In a separate post, she added: "To the logging truck driver and his or her family, please know that while our family is grieving, our son was a caring and loving soul and anger was never part of his persona. We have no anger or blame in our hearts, only pain."