Loyalist Township firefighter dies battling apartment fire near Kingston, Ont.

AMHERSTVIEW, Ont. – The Loyalist Township Fire Department is mourning the death of a crew member who suffered fatal injuries battling a fire in Amherstview.

Firefighters were called to an apartment complex in the community just west of Kingston late Saturday afternoon.

A statement from Ontario Provincial Police in Napanee says a firefighter was badly hurt at the scene and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Loyalist Fire Chief Fred Stephenson identified the deceased as 45-year-old Patrick Pidgeon, a husband, father and Canadian Forces veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. His death prompted an outpouring of condolences on social media.

“Patrick’s service to the residents of Loyalist Township was his passion, calling and a true testament to his character,” Stephenson said in a statement Sunday.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to Patrick’s wife and son. They are in our thoughts and prayers and we stand by them in this difficult time.”

Witness Colleen Clair, who lives in the building, said she saw a firefighter smash through the third-floor unit’s window before being overwhelmed by smoke inside.

“He started screaming for help. You knew he was in trouble. And then people started panicking,” with some telling him to jump, she said.

Clair said fellow firefighters then rescued him, while other residents said he appeared badly burned. A fire official from Napanee, also called to the blaze, said the man was OK.

The OPP release says the fire was contained to a single apartment unit, and that no one else was injured.

There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire, however, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation, with help from the OPP and the Ontario Coroner’s Office.

With a file from Global News