An airplane operated by B.C.-based Coulson Aviation has crashed in Australia while deployed to help fight wildfires there.

There are currently dozens of Canadian firefighters in Australia assisting with the country’s response to the emergency but no Canadian personnel were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident.

However, three American citizens board the plane did not survive the crash.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of everyone involved in this incident,” Doug Donaldson, B.C. minister of forests, lands, and natural resources, said in a media release. “On behalf of all British Columbians, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the flight crew and to the staff of Coulson Aviation.”

The aircraft, a C-130 airtanker, went down in New South Wales on January 23, just before 1:30 p.m. local time.

Australia is struggling with the worst wildfire season its seen in more than a generation.

“Some 30 people have so far been killed—including four firefighters—and more than 10 million hectares (100,000 sq km or 24.7 million acres) of bush, forest and parks across Australia has burned,” reads a January 21 report by BBC News.

“In the worst-hit state, New South Wales (NSW), fire has affected more than five million hectares, destroying more than 2,000 houses and forcing thousands to seek shelter elsewhere.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service has been sending emergency responders there to help out.

https://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo/status/1208076700824686592

Seven B.C. firefighters travelled to Australia on December 3 and then another six on December 20. They’re serving there among a total of 95 Canadian firefighters currently in Australia on 38-day deployments. The total number from B.C. stands at 19, as of January 8.

"We will continue to respond to requests for assistance from our Australian friends during their extremely challenging fire season,” Donaldson said quoted in today’s release.