Three people are dead after a plane responding to a wildfire near Fort Simpson, N.W.T., crashed on Wednesday evening.
N.W.T. Fire said in a news release Thursday afternoon that responders went to the crash site and confirmed the deaths.
“Our organization is grieving alongside the families, friends, colleagues, and the broader wildfire community as we process this unthinkable loss,” Mike Westwick, the manager of wildfire prevention and mitigation, said in the release.
“We will honour those who lost their lives in the line of duty at the appropriate time and in accordance with the wishes of their families,” Westwick added.
The RCMP said they are helping to recover the deceased and the N.W.T coroner’s office is also investigating.
RCMP said in a news release Thursday that they learned of the plane crash around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The plane involved was a fixed wing Turbo Commander 960 Bird Dog 104, the RCMP said. Bird dog aircraft are small, typically single-engine planes that carry crew who direct air traffic near a fire and coordinate the airtankers.
In a Facebook post Thursday, Yellowknife-based Buffalo Airways said the crash involved one of its planes.
“Buffalo Airways is working closely with Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, the RCMP and the [N.W.T. government’s] Department of Environment and Climate Change,” the post reads.
“At this time we do not have any further updates to provide. We ask that our crews and our company be given the space needed to support the investigation.”
N.W.T. Fire said the aircraft was working on a fire identified as FS009 — a naturally-caused fire 100 hectares in size discovered Wednesday evening in the Martin Hills area near Fort Simpson.
N.W.T. Fire and the RCMP did not provide any details about the crash.
“To support the well-being of our personnel, Critical Incident Stress Management Specialists are being mobilized to bases to help staff process these events,” a statement from N.W.T. Fire said.
Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright issued a written statement on Thursday afternoon, offering condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the three people killed and paying tribute to the deceased.
“These heroic individuals made the ultimate sacrifice while actively protecting our community, our homes, and the lives of every resident in our area,” the statement reads.
“There are no words sufficient to express the profound gratitude we owe them, nor the deep sorrow we feel at their passing.”
RCMP said the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is leading the investigation.
Jon Lee, a spokesperson with the TSB, said the agency was notified of the incident Wednesday night and was deploying two investigators to the area.
He said the TSB had few details about the incident.
