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Manitoba's Newest Water Bomber Joins Fleet in Battling Northern Fires

The Manitoba government is better prepared to protect Manitobans from the threat of wildfires than ever, with the addition of a fourth new Bombardier CL-415 turboprop water bomber to the provincial fleet, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“These are the world’s newest and best water bombers.  They carry more water and do almost twice as many drops per hour than the last generation of planes,” Selinger said.  “Our government is committed to investing in our firefighting resources to keep our communities safe.” 

The fourth new plane completes a $126-million investment that replaced some of the province’s older CL-215 water bombers over the last four years.  The newest water bomber was called into action for the first time this spring to battle a wild fire threatening homes in St. Norbert and is currently working to control fires in northern Manitoba.

The provincial air fleet now consists of the four new Bombardier CL-415 water bombers and two CL‑215 aircraft.  The forest-firefighting program also operates another three C-310 bird-dog aircraft that fly ahead of the water bombers to help direct them, three float planes used to transport fire crews and equipment to fires, as well as several contract helicopters.

“Manitoba averages more than 500 wildfires a year and, as we have already seen this spring, they can move quickly and pose a huge threat, not just to forests, but to communities and the people who live in their path,” said the premier.  “Our firefighters move quickly to protect at-risk people and property, and our modernized water-bomber fleet will give them the support they need to battle those fires more effectively.”

Since 1999, the Manitoba government has invested in 39 initial-attack crews made up of 175 firefighters.  This year, they have responded to 134 wildfires in the province.  Last year, there were 481 fires that burned a total of 221,936 hectares across the province.  Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship is carefully monitoring this year’s fire conditions, Selinger said.

From time to time, provinces and territories request crews and aircraft from other jurisdictions to reinforce their own in times of need.  Manitoba assists them through its partnership with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).  CIFFC co-ordinates the sharing of resources for all of the provinces, territories and the federal fire management agencies, as well as the United States and other countries.

Last year, Manitoba assisted firefighting efforts in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Minnesota.

More information on Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s fire program is available at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/fire/index.html.

Open fires are prohibited from April 1 to Nov. 15, except with a burning permit or in approved firepits such as grated campfire pits in provincial campsites.  Due to dry conditions, many rural municipalities have fire restrictions in place.  Anyone living, working, camping or travelling through these areas is advised to use caution.

For more information on fire prevention is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/fire/Prevention/prevention.html.

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