The disappearance of the helicopter was reported Wednesday evening and a little later the device could be located near Haig Lake, in northern Alberta. Authorities said the helicopter crashed in a remote area while fighting the fires. An investigation has been opened into the crash. The 41-year-old pilot, and sole occupant of the aircraft, was taken to an airport where he was pronounced dead.
Canada is being ravaged by unprecedented wildfires, with a total of 11 million hectares already burned this year. There are currently more than 880 active fires in the country, of which more than 540 are not yet under control.
The forest fires mainly rage through the boreal forest, far from inhabited areas, so there is little material and human damage, but the impact on the environment is no less great.