SPSA unveils new water bomber to fight wildfires

One day after discussing the risk of wildfires in the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) rolled out its newest water bomber Tuesday.

It’s a newer, modernized model of the aircraft that it’s replacing.

The water-scooping air tanker has a price tag of $37.3 million and is expected to provide a stronger wildfire response in the province.

Peter Boniface, the executive director of aviation operations with the agency, said having the new aircraft will help the SPSA protect the public against wildfires.

“We’re anticipating a fairly busy season and it’s great to have a fully modernized fleet available to respond to that,” he said during a media conference Tuesday at Regina International Airport.

According to Boniface, the water bomber is able to take on water quicker and fly faster than the older models the SPSA had. The agency said the new plane can reach speeds of up to 329 kilometres per hour and collect 1,200 gallons of water from an open water source in about 10 seconds.

“It will pick up waterloads a little faster, which gives it a better effectiveness on fires,” Boniface said.

(Lindsay Newman/980 CJME)

In the event of a wildfire, the water bomber can carry a foam-water-like mixture or just water, Boniface added.

The modernization of this specific aircraft started 18 months ago, but modernizing the SPSA fleet has been underway for the last 20 years.

Boniface said now that the SPSA has the aircraft and wildfire season is underway, crews will be training to fly the water bomber.

“Some of the training we’ll have to do is later on because we need open water; the lakes need to be unfrozen,” Boniface said.

He believes the training will take about two weeks before the aircraft is operational.

The plane will be stationed in La Ronge and will fly from there to wherever it’s needed.

So far in Saskatchewan, there are 12 wildfires burning, but 10 of them are contained.