Sask. Public Safety Agency renewing its fleet of water bombers

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is spending roughly $187.06 million on four repurposed land-based airtankers. The province’s current Conair 580 airplanes are reaching the end of their current lifespan.

The plan to purchase the planes was announced in the 2024-25 budget.

The SPSA is purchasing two Dash 8-Q400AT aircraft and two Dash8-Q400MRE models from Conair.

The agency says both models have increased efficiency and capacity and produce 30 per cent fewer emissions than similar-sized airtankers.

The first of the four planes is set to arrive by the end of summer 2025, with the others arriving by the end of 2027. That latter date is when the current planes will end their lifespan.

The Dash8-Q400MRE can be used as an airtanker but can also be repurposed for other operations like evacuations, patient transport and cargo hauling.

“I think it’s an important and a necessary investment in not only communities throughout northern Saskatchewan but … but also in many ways (it) protects all Saskatchewan communities with upgraded aircraft. ” Premier Scott Moe said during a media conference Tuesday at the Regina airport.

“(They’ll) service Saskatchewan communities better and keep Saskatchewan families safer.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Saskatchewan had three active wildfires, according to the SPSA website.

Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said the airtankers will serve crews well.

“It’s a continuous challenge to battle the forest fires but again we want to protect our buildings and the people that are up in the north,” Merriman said.

Merriman said the SPSA looked at leasing and other options for securing the planes, but it ultimately decided to buy them given the prevalence of wildfires within the province.

In 2023, Saskatchewan saw more than 1.9 million hectares of land burned. The province logged 494 fires, which was above the five-year average of 397.

“It’s not just about protecting Saskatchewan’s forests and the north, it’s also about the greater community of Western Canada as well as the northern states going up to Alaska (and) the territories to make sure that we’re able to support our neighbours and have the right equipment to be able to support them as we might need their support at some point in time,” Merriman said.

The minister said the current fleet will remain in operation until the new planes are phased in.

The financial impact for the SPSA’s 2024-25 capital budget is $5.52 million, with an additional three-year payment plan commitment.

The federal government is providing $16.29 million to offset costs through the Natural Resources Canada Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program.