SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife Fire Department plans to unveil a memorial at the end of September in honour of two fire fighters who died in 2005.

Fire Chief Albert Headrick stands by the foundations where a monument to fallen firefighters Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson will stand early this fall, while holding the design sketch of the monument. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

Lt. Cyril Fyfe and Firefighter Kevin Olson died while fighting a fire inside a shed at Home Building Centre. The roof of the shed collapsed under the weight of other firefighters and accumulated snow.

The monument will be a 3,311 kg slab of polished black granite almost nine feet in length. Flames will be engraved in the top and pictures of the two firefighters will adorn the sides, bordering a "firefighter's prayer" in the middle.

"We're recognizing that they sacrificed their lives," Fire Chief Albert Headrick said. "It's something that people can see, to represent that.

"This is a memento of our appreciation," said Headrick. He added it would also honour the firefighters who put their lives on the line for public safety.

Local architect Kris Schlaginweit provided a conceptual design draft which was sent to Swift Current Monumental in Swift Current, Sask. The company works directly with a Montreal firm that, according to Headrick, specializes in exactly the monument the fire department is looking for.

The cost of the monument is estimated by Headrick to be $40,000. About $35,000 has been raised so far by the department and they hope to raise the rest through donations and through the sale of a firefighter's calendar.

Other materials have been donated by members of the community - Chuck Corothers of Home Building Centre donated material to construct the foundation pad. CR Enterprises donated eight yards worth of concrete and Eecol Electric donated material for lighting the monument. Legge's Construction and Northern Lights Electrical supplied free labour to install and build aspects of the foundation pad.

RTL-Robinson Limited will be shipping the monument up to Yellowknife free of charge, and John Pistak Masonry as well as Arctic Farmer will be retained to do the final landscaping around the tribute.

Headrick was happy about the result.

"It'll look pretty sharp," said Headrick.