A GoFundMe page has been started for a 28-year-old father who was injured during a large fire at the Leduc landfill on May 31.
Brandon Lethbridge, a heavy equipment operator, had been on the job for less than three weeks before being called in on his day off to help keep the fire from spreading, said Kat Harrison who organized the fundraiser.
According to the page, Lethbridge sustained burns over 65 per cent of his body and is currently in the specialized ICU burn unit at the University of Alberta Hospital.
As of June 19, the fundraiser had collected over $28,000 to help support the family.
"We still don't know the full story as my children's father is still in critical condition," said said Kierra Stenhouse, Lethbridge's fiance, in a public post on June 15.
"Our hearts are broken. We are devastated."
Lethbridge is still in critical condition, according to Stenhouse.
"This is going to change our lives forever. Brandon is a very strong man and I know he is going to come home to us," she said.
"I don't know how to put it in words at this very moment as I'm in shock, its like living in a bad dream and you can't wake up."
A fire broke out at the Leduc and District Regional Waste Management Facility on May 31, soon growing larger, taking about 36 hours to extinguish.
Responding fire departments remained on the scene to contain the fire and protect the perimeter around the landfill pile until 11 a.m. on June 2.
Landfill staff also operated heavy equipment to assist with fire suppression, according Leduc Fire Services.
On June 9, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) confirmed they have begun an investigation into the fire.
"It is always tragic when a worker is hurt on the job. Alberta’s government is focused on having all workers return home healthy and safe after every workday," OHS said in a provided statement.
"OHS is investigating a fire that occurred May 31, 2025 at the Leduc and District Regional Waste Facility. One worker was seriously injured. As this is an active OHS investigation, no further information can be provided at this time."
While Acting Alberta RCMP media relations manager Cpl. Troy Savinkoff confirmed the Leduc RCMP detachment responded to the incident, their role was limited to traffic control and they had no involvement with the injury.
Savinkoff said the RCMP doesn't attend every fire, but when they do, if the responding fire department advises there is no criminality involved, the RCMP file doesn't go any further. The investigation of any workplace injury incident is handed over to OHS.
