Array
(
    [ff_id] => 1301
    [first_name] => Edwin
    [nickname] => 
    [middle_name] => George
    [last_name] => Taschuk
    [category] => Wildland Firefighter
    [employment] => Wildland
    [rank] => Wildland Firefighter
    [birth_date] => 
    [joined_date] => 
    [death_date] => 1971-05-21
    [funeral_date] => 1971-05-25
    [cemetary] => Mount Pleasant Cemetery
    [age] => 19
    [department] => Alberta Forest Service
    [station] => Robb Ranger Station
    [city] => Robb
    [province] => AB
    [incident_location] => Sec 4-51-22-5. Approx 14 miles NW of Robb. Approx. GPS: 53’22.632 x 117’12.065
    [incident_province] => Alberta
    [cause] => Drowning
    [circumstances] => 
While crossing the McLeod River to access the wildfire with the assembled Initial Attack crew, Edwin Taschuk slipped on a rock and was taken downstream by the river where he drowned.

    [url] => 
    [other] => 
    [wsib_rec_date] => 
    [date_entered] => 2016-03-22 10:41:32
    [source] => James MacKinnon
    [note] => Updated Feb 11, 2024 JMK
    [ceremony] => 
    [photo] => edwin_taschuk.jpg
    [panel_number] => 22
    [story_EN] => 
Alberta Forest Service (Alberta Ecology Corp summer work program)

Edwin Taschuk was a summer student with the Alberta Ecology Corp (Alberta Government) and sponsored by the Alberta Forest Service. He was working for the Alberta Forest Service and assigned to the Edson Forest. 

At the time, he was working for a Forest Officer out of Robb.  They were involved in various projects out of the ranger station.  On May 21 1971, there were wildfires in the area, and the Forest Officer and his crew may have been camped nearby.  The Forest Officer took the crew to action this wildfire.  They traveled possibly by helicopter or one was used to bucket.  From what I understand, the helicopter landed on a ford and the crew walked to the other side to access the wildfire.

While crossing the McLeod River to access the wildfire with the assembled Initial Attack crew, Edwin Taschuk slipped on a rock and was taken downstream by the river where he drowned.

The location of the incident was sec 4-51-22-5. Approx 14 miles NW of Robb AB.

Approx. GPS: 53’22.632 x 117’12.065

Fire number: DE1-008-71

Size: 0.01 ha

Cause of the wildfire: lightning



    [story_FR] => 
    [is_live] => 1
    [dod] => 1971-05-21
)