Feds lease 10 new firefighting aircraft as wildfire season gets underway

New assets include air tankers and heavy lift helicopters

RCI

Peter Zimonjic (new window) · CBC News

Firefighting agencies across Canada have 10 new aircraft they can use as the 2026 wildfire season gets underway.

Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, announced in Ottawa on Monday that provincial and territorial wildfire agencies can now request the aircraft through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

These additional aircraft will strengthen Canada’s wildfire response, protect front-line personnel and protect communities across the country, she said.

The 10 aircraft include four firefighting air tankers, one birddog plane and five heavy lift helicopters, along with two support assets.

The aircraft will be pre-positioned across the country based on where expected need will arise, the government said….

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