Former Calgary Fire Chief dies of lung transplant complications

Bruce Burrell was the head of the city’s fire department from 2005 to 2014 and passed away Monday from lung transplant complications

The man who served as Calgary’s fire chief for nine years, including during the 2013 floods, has died.

Bruce Burrell was the head of the city’s fire department from 2005 to 2014 and passed away Monday from lung transplant complications, his wife Jennifer said online. He was 65.

In June 2017, Burrell was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The diagnosis was terminal and had very little options for treatment.

In a post to X, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) confirmed his passing, saying the former Fire Chief of the Year “brought a degree of dedication unmatched by many to firefighter safety.”