The province’s fifth waterbomber is expected to remain out of commission until 2026.
If that return date holds true, that would be eight years after the waterbomber was initially damaged in an incident on a pond on the Burin Peninsula back in 2018.
In a statement, government says work is currently underway to finalize the process for the repair of the aircraft, noting that the timeline will “likely exceed one year.”
Government is confident in their ability to fight forest fires with their current level of resources, which includes aerial support and firefighting teams, as well as partnerships with other jurisdictions.
They hint that there is funding for further forest fire resources, and that there will be an update “in the coming weeks.”