Photo: peterwey/Depositphotos
On July 22, a fire suddenly broke out in Jasper National Park, spreading quickly and causing significant damage across the Canadian forest. As the flames grew, hikers and campers in the area were ordered to evacuate, and thankfully, 18-year-old volunteer firefighter Colleen Knull was there to lead the way.
Knull was working a summer job as part of the kitchen staff at a Jasper lodge when the fire started. “The smoke was coming up from the mountainside,” she recalls. “It was big.” The trainee firefighter quickly alerted the guests at the lodge and searched for other campers in the area. She gathered a group of 16 people and led them through a difficult four-hour hike in the dark, guiding them all to safety.
Rebecca Tocher was among the evacuees. She described Knull as “an amazing leader,” recalling how she took charge and kept everyone united during the tense and frightening hike. Tocher vividly remembers, “There was intense smoke, my eyes were burning, and there was ash falling constantly.”
Fortunately, Knull was familiar with the trail and was able to use her tracking skills to navigate the area. “I had previously rode up a horse up to that lodge on that same trail and throughout the way me and my employer, we had cut logs on the way up,” she recalls. “So, I knew there would be 67 cut logs on the way down.” In addition to counting the logs, Knull also relied on horse tracks and manure to guide the group safely through the dark.
During the hike down, the group was able to communicate with search and rescue crews to help with the evacuation, and eventually, the group reached a pickup truck. Knull managed to pack all 16 people inside and drove them to safety without any serious injuries. “She was just on it,” said Dave Richmond, another evacuee. “And she led it the whole way.”
Knull, who is training to become a full-time firefighter, demonstrates that bravery and resourcefulness are essential in any dangerous situation. But what truly sets her apart is her compassion for others. She explains, “I do it because, at the end of the day, I know I’d want to go home—and I’d want someone there to help.”
18-year-old volunteer firefighter Colleen Knull guided 16 hikers to safety during a fire that erupted in Jasper National Park.
h/t: [CBC]
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