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NWT Fire reports ‘serious incident’ involving plane near Fort Simpson

A file image of a King Air 100 aircraft, a type commonly used as a bird dog in NWT wildland firefighting. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
A file image of a King Air 100 aircraft, a type commonly used as a bird dog in NWT wildland firefighting. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio

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The NWT’s wildfire agency says one of its aircraft has been involved in a “serious incident” while working on a fire near Fort Simpson.

In a brief statement issued just after 9pm on Wednesday, NWT Fire said the incident had involved one of its bird dog aircraft while working with a larger air tanker group.

The NWT’s Department of Environment and Climate Change “is responding to the incident in coordination with the RCMP,” NWT Fire stated.

“There is currently no information available regarding the status of the people aboard.”

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No further detail about what had taken place was immediately available.

A bird dog aircraft is a small lead plane that usually acts as a command and coordination hub during aerial wildfire fighting.

The planes often fly ahead of air tankers to assess fire behaviour, develop attack strategies and guide tankers.