Three people killed in firefighting plane crash near Fort Simpson

Authorities say no survivors have been found after an aircraft helping to fight wildfires came down with three people aboard about 50 km from Fort Simpson.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, police said the Turbo Commander 960 aircraft crashed on Wednesday evening. NWT Fire has said the plane was working on wildfire FS009, west of the village.

“The RCMP attended the scene and did not locate any survivors. The NWT Coroner Service is engaged and investigating. The RCMP is assisting in recovering the occupants,” police stated.

NWT Fire stated: “With profound sadness, we confirm that three people lost their lives in the Bird Dog aircraft crash west of Fort Simpson.

“Responders accessed the crash site and confirmed the fatalities today.

“Our organization is grieving alongside the families, friends, colleagues, and the broader wildfire community as we process this unthinkable loss.”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it had dispatched investigators to the scene.

What happened to cause the crash is not clear. The names of the people involved have not yet been made public.

Flight tracking data shows a Buffalo Airways-owned aircraft matching the description provided by RCMP was in the area the agencies described on Wednesday evening. Its last position was recorded at roughly 6:30pm MT.

Late on Wednesday, NWT Fire reported one of its bird dog aircraft had been involved in a “serious incident” near the village.

A bird dog 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.

As of early Thursday, fire FS009 was burning in the Martin Hills west of Fort Simpson. The fire, naturally caused, was reported to have reached 100 hectares in size and was under initial attack from fire crews.

Firefighters are also working on fire FS011 between the Liard River and Highway 7 south of the Checkpoint intersection with Highway 1, while fire FS010 is about 40 km north of Nahanni Butte.

Fort Simpson issued a fresh fire ban on Wednesday.

Communities express support

Mayor of Fort Simpson Les Wright said the hearts of residents were “deeply broken” by the loss of the fire crew members.

“These heroic individuals made the ultimate sacrifice while actively protecting our community, our homes, and the lives of every resident in our area. There are no words sufficient to express the profound gratitude we owe them, nor the deep sorrow we feel at their passing,” Wright wrote.

“On behalf of the Village of Fort Simpson, council, and our residents, I extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and fellow crew members. We stand fully with you in your grief, and our community will never forget their bravery or their sacrifice.”

Communities across the NWT began sending messages of condolence as news of the fatalities spread on Thursday.

“Today we recognize the dedication and bravery of the pilots, firefighters, emergency responders, and support personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities each wildfire season,” the Town of Inuvik stated.

Fort Smith Mayor Dana Fergusson wrote: “Today, our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the firefighters who lost their lives while serving and protecting our communities. This is a profound loss for the Northwest Territories, and one that is felt by communities across the territory.

“We are deeply grateful for their courage, dedication, and selfless service. Their commitment to protecting other will not be forgotten. On behalf of the Town of Fort Smith, we extend our heartfelt condolence to everyone affected by this tragic loss.”

Buffalo Airways, confirming one of its pilots had been lost in the crash, wrote: “Alongside the GNWT Dept of Environment and Climate Change, we are mourning heroes who were fighting in the line of duty.

“In the coming days we will honour our fallen in close consultation with their family. Until then our priority is to support the rest of our aerial firefighting teams who remain on duty, family, friends, and industry partners affected by this loss.”

NWT said critical incident stress management specialists would be available to support its staff.