Manitoba spending $80M on 3 new water bombers to fight forest fires
As another wildfire season approaches in Manitoba, the provincial government says it will spend $80 million to upgrade its water bomber fleet with three new firefighting aircraft by 2032.
The new DHC-515 Firefighter water bombers will have upgraded navigation systems, increased tank capacity and more fuel-efficient engines, the province said in a Friday news release.
The first water bomber is expected to join the fleet for the 2031 fire season, with the other two expected to be added in 2032, the release said.
The new bombers were promised within a decade in the latest provincial budget, released last month.
Premier Wab Kinew and Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie held a news conference to highlight the new firefighting aircraft on Friday.
Bushie said the additional aircraft are integral to protecting communities and forests from the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires.
Earl Simmons, the executive director of Manitoba Conservation and Wildlife Service, called the purchase of the water bombers a "monumental commitment."
Friday's news release also highlighted other 2025 budget commitments for firefighting, including an additional $6.7 million toward new equipment and systems, and $1.1 million over four years for a new weather information system, wildfire mapping and reporting systems, the release said.
The province also noted the latest budget doubled tax credits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer search and rescue members from $3,000 to $6,000.
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