esources go over procedures in the Bird Dog last week.

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

The Nova Scotia Government has announced it has contracted four water bombers as it looks to prepare for wildfire season.

On Wednesday, the government said it has contracted four Air Tractor AT-802 water bombers and one Cessna Caravan Bird Dog until the end of September. That contract will be extended if need be.

“Our wildfire seasons are becoming more intense, more unpredictable and more demanding. We’ve learned that we already know how to respond and how to step up and support each other,” said Premier Tim Houston. “But we also need to make sure our teams have the very best resources available to them. These new additions to our fleet will help ensure we’re well prepared.”

The province said the $6.5 million contract is with Forest Protection Ltd. of New Brunswick. The five aircraft will be stationed at the Debert air tanker base in Colchester County.

According to the province, it is also investing $12.8 million in equipment upgrades, which will be matched by Ottawa.

Wildfire season in Nova Scotia runs from March until mid-October.

Forest Protection Ltd.’s Phil Leblanc, Air Tractor AT-802 water bomber pilot, in the cockpit last week. (Province of Nova Scotia)

The planes are expected to be on a contract from May 1 through the end of September, with the province hiring three positions to support the temporary contract. Nova Scotia does not have its own fleet of water bombers, which means it relies on other provinces, like New Brunswick and Quebec.

Last year, there were a lot of questions to the government about its lack of fixed-wing water bombers as a wildfire threatened Halifax Regional Municipality, in Bayer’s Lake.