'An incredible loss': Community mourns firefighter who died at N.S. wildfire scene

A closely knit Nova Scotia community of interests is bereavement a offer firefighter who died th evening after suffering a medical episode at the scene of a wildfire in Annapolis County.

Alexandru Uichita, 40, was responding to a fire in Moschelle, near Bridgetown, N.S. His death was announced Saturday in a statement by Natural Resources Minister Kim Masland.

Bridgetown deputy fire Chief Justin Oliver said he was working alongside Uichita, assisting another local department to suppress the 1.4-hectare wildfire. As operations began winding down, Uichita mentioned he didn't feel well.

Oliver instructed him to take a break, but Uichita suffered a medical emergency shortly after.

"The last thing that I heard him say was calling my name for help," Oliver said.

Oliver said the situation turned chaotic as he and his team tried to resuscitate Uichita. They stayed by his side until an ambulance arrived, but he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

In a social media post on Saturday, the Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Department called Uichita a "quiet leader." He leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Oliver's connection to Uichita extended beyond the fire hall. The two knew each other before Uichita joined the department in 2024 — their children played soccer together, a team Uichita frequently coached.

"He was just one of those great people," Oliver said. "If we had more people like him in the community, in the fire service and in the world in general, we'd be in a really good place."

Bridgetown fire Chief Randy Sheridan said Uichita quickly became a dependable asset to the crew. The department has just 33 volunteer firefighters to cover a vast territory.

"He integrated in a hurry into the department," Sheridan said.

Uichita also served during last year's Long Lake wildfires, which burned nearly 8,500 hectares and destroyed 20 homes in the West Dalhousie area. Sheridan recalled that Uichita brought an unshakeable positivity to the front lines under stressful circumstances.

"The biggest thing I remember is his smile. It was always on his face," Sheridan said. "No matter what I asked him to do, no matter what we were talking about, he always had a smile on his face. I'll remember that forever."

Because the Annapolis County firefighting community is small, Sheridan expects the grief to be felt deeply across the region.

The wildfire Uichita was helping contain was successfully extinguished.

The Bridgetown department is collecting funds to support Uichita’s family. Information regarding a memorial service has not yet been released.

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Reporter - Editor

Giuliana is a journalist originally from Lima, Peru. She is interested in stories about rural Nova Scotia, science, the environment and more. If you have any story tips, you can reach her at giuliana.grillo.de.lambarri@cbc.ca.

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