A second firefighter has tragically lost their life battling Canada's unprecedented wildfires, prompting condolences from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The firefighter from Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, sustained a fatal injury on Saturday while combating a blaze southeast of the town, according to territorial government officials. The fire, ignited on July 7th, remains active. While the firefighter's identity is being withheld pending family notification, both Trudeau and Northwest Territories officials expressed their grief and acknowledged the profound loss for the community and the nation.

An aerial view of wildfire of Tatkin Lake in British Columbia, Canada on July 10, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Shane Thompson, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, praised the dedication of firefighters facing extreme conditions this season, which has seen an early and intense start to the wildfire crisis. He emphasized the painful nature of this loss, particularly given the firefighter's commitment to protecting their own community.

Society of Protection of Forests from Fire prevention agent Melanie Morin walks through an area of burned forest in the area surrounding Lebel-sur-Quevillon, Quebec, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Premier Caroline Cochrane echoed these sentiments, expressing condolences and gratitude for the firefighters' service. This devastating incident follows the death of 19-year-old firefighter Devyn Gale in British Columbia just days earlier, who was tragically struck by a falling tree. With over 880 active fires currently burning and millions of acres scorched across Canada, the wildfire situation remains critical. The resulting smoke has triggered air quality alerts across a vast swathe of the United States, impacting regions from Montana to Ohio. Authorities warn that unhealthy air conditions may persist into the beginning of the week.

French firefighters try to extinguish wildfires in Clova, Quebec, Canada on June 18, 2023. (SOPFEU / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Smoke billows from the Donnie Creek wildfire burning north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, on Sunday, July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)