WASHINGTON, June 26 — A Cessna O-1 “Bird Dog” aircraft conducting a wildfire suppression flight in Canada’s Northwest Territories (N.W.T) crashed, killing three people aboard, the territories’ official wildfire management and reporting agency NWT Fire said on Thursday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
“We can now confirm that the serious incident involving a Bird Dog aircraft near Fort Simpson was a crash,” N.W.T Fire said on social media.
“Three people were onboard the aircraft. The aircraft was suppressing wildfire FS009-26,” the authority said.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was dispatched to the crash site in coordination with the N.W.T. Environment and Climate Change Ministry to begin a probe into the incident and determine the status of the aircraft’s passengers, the wildfire authority said.
According to N.W.T. Environment and Climate Change, FS009-26 is raging in the area of Marten Hills, region of Dehcho.
The 100 hectares fire that began naturally on June 23 is currently assessed as being out of control.
As of June 25, close to 91,400 acres of land are affected by 28 active wildfires in the Northwest Territories.
Out of the total number, 19 are deemed out of control, 4 are being held, 5 are under control, and 8 are extinguished.
