Respected firefighter passes away unexpectedly

Oct 17, 2020 | 4:17 PM Pete McIntyre

The Lake Country Fire Department has lost a dedicated member.

Members of the department and administration issued a news release Saturday, saying they are deeply saddened to inform the community about the death of firefighter Karl Featherstone at home on Sunday,

Featherstone joined the Lake Country Fire Department in 2009 as a paid-on-call firefighter and was known for his calm, diligent participation and exemplary attendance at practices and call outs. In 2018 he received the Station 71 Firefighter of the Year award; Best Attendance to emergency call outs and practices in 2014; and a ten-year service pin in 2019. In addition to local fire, medical and motor vehicle incidents that required an immediate response, Featherstone was part of a team deployed to provide mutual aid at the Christie Mountain wildfire in Penticton this summer.

Karl Featherston (centre) with deputy fire chief Brent Penner (left) and fire chief Steve Windsor (submitted photo)

“Karl was well respected by everyone at the fire department,” said Deputy Chief Brent Penner. “He was self-employed so he could manage his schedule to be home with his family as much as possible and would often jog down to Station 71 from home to work out. He took pride in his carpentry work and was known for doing a great job in anything he took on. His family and service to his community were very important to him.”

At age 47, Featherstone suffered a cardiac medical emergency at home Sunday morning and despite all attempts by immediate family, LCFD first response firefighter colleagues, BC Ambulance Service crew and the Advanced Life Support team, the outcome was negative.

“After being with the department for 11 years, he has touched more local lives than most people can imagine and has definitely been involved in saving more than a few lives himself,” said an LCFD paid-on-call firefighter colleague. “Karl was an extremely popular guy and an absolute pleasure to work alongside through good times and bad.”

Karl Featherstone with his family (submitted photo)

“The passing of Karl Featherstone is a tragic loss,” said Fire Chief Steve Windsor. “He was a hard-working and well-respected man. We extend our deepest condolences to his family – especially his wife and two young children, friends and members of the LCFD as we mourn his loss.”

The fire department asks that the privacy of Karl’s family be respected at this time.