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The wildfire that the water bomber pilot was fighting when he was crashed on Friday is now making it difficult for investigators to get to the crash site.
Cpl Mike Dunsmore has confirmed that the plane crash at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22nd on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range was fatal. The Department of National Defence Search and Rescue helped recover the pilot’s body late on Friday from the scene of the crash.
Smoke from the wildfire near Cold Lake that the pilot was fighting. (Photo Credit: Alberta Wildfire Info)
RCMP say that the pilot was a 38-year-old male and the sole occupant of the aircraft. He was a civilian pilot who was flying an Air Tractor water bomber, specifically an AT802 Fireboss. Both he and the plane were under contract to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Development (ESRD) and were there as part of the firefighting operations.
The pilot worked with Conair Aerial Firefighting, and the Director of Business Development Jeff Berry says that this was the pilot's fourth season with Conair.
The pilot’s next of kin have been notified. RCMP are not releasing the man’s identity.
Wildland LODD - COLD LAKE, Alta. — A small air tanker crashed Friday 100 K east of Lac La Biche, AB killing 37-year-old pilot & passenger.
— CFFF (@CanFirefighters) May 23, 2015
The Office of the Medical Examiner will be helping to determine the cause of the death, and investigators from the Transportation Safety Board are working to determine the cause of the crash. However, the wildfire conditions in the area have made it difficult to access the crash site. The scene has been secured for investigators.
Alberta Premier Designate Rachel Notley has released a statement on the pilot’s death. “On behalf of the Government of Alberta and all Albertans, I offer my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of the pilot who lost his life protecting our province from a threatening wildfire.”
Similar aircraft to that in the Cold Lake crash. (Photo Credit: Air Tractor)
“First responders like this pilot, and our many other dedicated wildland fire fighters, put their lives on the line every day to ensure that our homes and families are safe,” said Notley. “We owe them our most sincere gratitude. Even as they mourn the loss of one of their own, I know they will continue fighting the many fires burning within our borders.”
On Sunday, the Alberta Wildfire Management Branch reported that the fire near Cold Lake had grown to about 6000 hectares.
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