Parched New Brunswick adds amphibious aircraft after

The New Brunswick government is adding four new amphibious aircraft to its firefighting fleet after last year’s forest fire season was one of the worst in decades.

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick government is adding four new amphibious aircraft to its firefighting fleet after last year’s forest fire season was one of the worst in decades. The new Fire Boss AT-802A planes can skim over lakes and rivers, loading up with about 3,000 litres of water in 20 to 30 seconds to quickly attack forest fires. Mike O’Blenis, CEO of Forest Protection Ltd., which is leasing the aircraft to the government, says they can make a drop every five to seven minutes if there’s a water

Source and reference

source nearby and are especially useful in remote areas. New Brunswick is leasing new firefighting aircraft to complement its existing fleet of water bombers. The four new Fire Boss aircraft can load up with more than 3,000 litres of water in 20 to 30 seconds, and drop their load every five to seven minutes with a nearby water source. (May 19, 2026) “The amphibious aircraft are really for adding as much water as you possibly can. They turn very, very quickly when you have a close water source,” O’Blenis told reporters Tuesday at the Fredericton International Airport. He said the new aircraft are seen as a compliment to the province’s existing fleet of wheeled water bombers, which O’Blenis says need to return to base to reload and can take 20 to 30 minutes between drops, depending on the distance. Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the existing bombers are better at attacking...

Read original source

Why this matters locally

This environment story matters locally because it may affect readers, businesses, commuters, families, or public services in British Columbia.

Local impact

BC Post links this item to British Columbia coverage so readers can follow related city updates, weather, traffic, events, and category news in one place.

Timeline