RCMP say three people have died after a small plane directing the fight against wildfires in the Northwest Territories crashed.

The crash happened Wednesday night about 50 kilometres from Fort Simpson, west of Yellowknife.

RCMP say officers were able to reach the site and have launched an investigation.

They say the aircraft is a Turbo Commander 960 Bird Dog, which is typically used as an airborne command centre to co-ordinate firefighting operations.

Police say Transportation Safety Board investigators have been called in.