Police have identified the pilot of a helicopter that crashed while assisting firefighter efforts in northern Alberta last week.
Jean-Luc Deba, 54, of Montreal, died when his chopper crashed into the waters of Lesser Slave Lake, not far outside the devastated community of Slave Lake.
Deba was the lone occupant of the helicopter.
The aircraft was privately contracted by the Alberta government to help assist firefighting efforts and was operated by Campbell Helicopters, out of Abbotsford, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the incident. The cause of the crash has not been released.
"This is a sad loss for everyone in Alberta," Sustainable Resources Minister Mel Knight said last week.
"What a terrible way to be reminded of the courage our wildfire fighters display by being on the front lines for all of us."
