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18-Year-Old Woman Heroically Leads 16 To Safety Amid Wildfire In Jasper National Park

July 29, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Jasper National Park, Canada.

Jasper National Park witnessed an incredible act of heroism on July 22nd when 18-year-old Colleen Knull, a volunteer firefighter, took swift action to evacuate people from a raging wildfire.

Despite being off duty from her summer job at the Jasper Lodge, Knull's quick thinking and bravery ensured the safety of 16 individuals.

Colleen Knull

With less than a year of experience at the Enderby Fire Department, Knull's instincts kicked in as she noticed smoke rising from the mountainside.

“My first indication that there was a fire was we had noticed smoke coming up from the mountainside, and during my previous training in wildfire, I used some of the knowledge that I obtained from that and applied it to read the smoke, wind directions and how close it was,” she said.

Before the official evacuation order was issued, Knull was already in action, knocking on cabin doors to alert guests at the lodge. She then realized there was a hiker campground nearby that had no way of knowing about the imminent danger.

"So I walked five minutes up the trail and then proceeded to evacuate everybody out of that area and bring them down into the rest of the group," she explained.

This initiative led her to gather 16 people for a grueling four-hour hike through treacherous terrain to safety.

Rebecca Tocher, one of the hikers in Knull's group, described the perilous conditions: “There was more intense smoke, my eyes were burning, there was ash falling constantly.” Despite these challenges, Knull's leadership was unwavering. “She was an amazing leader and was just making sure that everyone was working together,” Tocher added.

Knull's familiarity with the area, coupled with her firefighting training, proved invaluable. She recalled a recent trip up the trail where 67 logs had been cut to clear the path, which helped her navigate the route back to safety.

David Richmond, another hiker in the group, praised her efforts, saying, “She was just on it and she led it, the whole way.”

Knull's motivation was simple yet profound. “I do it because at the end of the day, I know I'd want to go home and I'd want somebody there to help,” she said.

Throughout the descent, Knull maintained communication with search and rescue crews, ensuring a coordinated evacuation. Ultimately, she drove all 16 individuals out of the evacuation zone in her pickup truck, with no serious injuries reported.

Knull said the experience reinforced her motivation to become a full-time, professional firefighter.

Watch the video below.