Fire fighting plane crashes in northern Alberta

The lone occupant of a firefighting plane that crashed Friday afternoon in northern Alberta has died, a company spokesman confirmed.

RCMP Cpl. Mike Dunsmore says the aircraft was operating under contract to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Development, and was “in the area as part of wild land firefighting operations.”

Jeff Barry, of Conair Aerial Firefighting, says the single-seat Air Tractor 802 went down Friday afternoon, about 100 kilometres east of Lac La Biche.

The name of the deceased pilot is being withheld, but Barry says the pilot had been in his fourth firefighting season with the company.

The cause of the crash remains a mystery, with the plane — known as the “Fire Boss” — used to scoop up water from lakes or to deliver fire retardant.

Crews in northern Alberta have been fighting wildfires for more than a week.

Agencies/Canadajournal