The pilot of a helicopter that was helping with wildfire efforts in northern Alberta has died in what officials are calling an accident.
Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen issued a statement late Thursday morning confirming the fatality.
“It is with great sadness that I learned about the death of a helicopter pilot who was working on the wildfires in the Peace River Forest Area,” Loewen said.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it has sent investigators to the scene of an “accident” involving a helicopter that was involved in “firefighting operations.”
In a statement issued to Global News on Thursday morning, the TSB said its personnel were informed about an incident “involving a Bell 205A helicopter” near Peace River.
“The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence,” the agency said.
The TSB did not say if any injuries have been reported.
TSB spokesperson Chris Krepski told The Canadian Press that an emergency locator transmitter signal was received Wednesday at around 6 p.m.
He said the helicopter is in a marshy area northeast of Peace River.
In a statement issued to Global News on Thursday afternoon, Krepski said the helicopter was operated by Valhalla Helicopters and “collided with terrain.”
Global News has reached out to Valhalla Helicopters for comment.
In a news release issued Thursday afternoon, the RCMP said the pilot was a 41-year-old man from Whitecourt, Alta.
The RCMP said it received a report about a missing helicopter and pilot at about 6:58 p.m. on Wednesday night.
At about 8 p.m., police said they were told the crash site had been found and Mounties were flown to the scene near Haig Lake, Alta.
“Forestry workers were doing CPR on the lone occupant of the helicopter, who had been engaged in firefighting operations,” the RCMP said.
“The pilot was taken to the Peace River airport where he was declared deceased.”
“On behalf of Alberta’s government and all Albertans, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the pilot,” Minister Loewen said.
“While we mourn a life lost in the line of duty, Alberta’s brave first responders continue to put themselves in danger every day to protect Alberta families. For that, we thank them.
“Today’s tragic news is a reminder that the heroes who put their lives on the line to protect us are men and women like you and me. They have families, friends, hopes and dreams. To see a life cut short in these circumstances is incredibly heartbreaking and Alberta’s government is incredibly thankful for those who continue to protect our communities from these devastating fires. We will continue to do all we can to protect and support the wildfire response teams.”
Premier Danielle Smith tweeted about the crash.
“It is with heavy hearts that we learn of this incident involving a helicopter pilot fighting wildfires in the Peace River region,” she tweeted. “On behalf of all Albertans I want to offer our condolences to the family, friends, and all those who knew them.
“From the bottom of my heart I want to thank the brave men and women who are working every day to keep our province safe on the front lines. This tragic loss is a reminder of how they put their lives on the line to keep us all safe.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that he is “heartbroken to hear that another Canadian fighting wildfires has lost their life.
“My condolences to the family and friends of the brave pilot whose helicopter crashed in Alberta yesterday. We’ll never forget his service to his province and to our country.”
The job is not without risks.
In an interview with Global News on Thursday about the northern Alberta crash, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff highlighted the dangers faced by those fighting wildfires and called what happened “super tragic.”
“Fires are a rapidly changing environment and they are skilled employees, but like with anything, like police work, you can do all the training in the world and have all the skills in the world, but the nature of the beast is that there’s danger,” he said.
Savinkoff said he first developed a better understanding of what it’s like for people who fight wildfires in his dealings with those workers during the Fort McMurray wildfire crisis in 2016.
“I was astonished at the conditions they’re exposed to. These individuals, for instance the ones on the ground, they would come back from a day’s work absolutely black from the work they were doing — and exhausted. These individuals really put a lot of effort into what they do.”
Two other people have died this summer while fighting wildfires in Canada.
Adam Yeadon, 25, also died last week while fighting a wildfire near Fort Liard, N.W.T. Family members have said he was injured by a tree, but officials have not yet provided details about what happened.
Two days earlier, firefighter Devyn Gale, 19, died after a tree fell on her near Revelstoke, B.C. Her death is now under investigation by police, the BC Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC and the BC Wildfire Service.
Two years ago, a helicopter fighting wildfires west of Edmonton crashed near Evansburg, killing the pilot.
After investigating that crash, the TSB later determined a part that held the rotors onto the aircraft failed, causing them to break free — sending the cockpit plummeting to the ground.
As of Thursday afternoon, Alberta had 117 active wildfires, 17 of which were considered out of control.
–With files from Ritika Gubey, The Canadian Press and Karen Bartko, Global News
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