June 25 (UPI) -- Authorities in northern Canada on Thursday confirmed that three people are dead after a plane responding to forest fires in the Northwest Territories crashed the night prior.
NWT Fire said responders were able to access the crash site on Thursday and confirmed the fatalities.
"Our organization is grieving alongside the families, friends, colleagues and the broader wildfire community as we process this unthinkable loss," it said in a statement.
"We will honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty at the appropriate time and in accordance with the wishes of their families."
The bird dog aircraft, with three people aboard, crashed Wednesday evening near Fort Simpson where it was deployed along with an airtanker group to fight a nearby wildfire.
