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The Loyalist Township Fire Department is mourning the death of a crew member who suffered fatal injuries battling a fire in Amherstview.

Firefighters were called to an apartment complex in the community just west of Kingston late Saturday afternoon.

A statement from Ontario Provincial Police in Napanee says a firefighter was badly hurt at the scene and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Loyalist Fire Chief Fred Stephenson identified the deceased as 45-year old Patrick Pidgeon, a husband, father and Canadian Forces veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. His death prompted an outpouring of condolences on social media.

The OPP release says the fire was contained to a single apartment unit, and that no one else was injured.

There's no word yet on the cause of the fire, however, the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is leading the investigation, with help from the OPP and the Ontario Coroner's Office.

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