New Brunswick to announce amphibious aircraft investment for wildfire response

The New Brunswick government is set to announce a significant investment in new amphibious aircraft to bolster its wildfire response capabilities. The announcement is scheduled for this morning at Forest Protection Ltd., a government-majority-owned company specializing in aerial surveys, forest health management, and rapid-response firefighting.

Officials did not provide specific details in advance, but the provincial government previously allocated $3 million in April to secure availability for four Fire Boss specialized water-scooping aircraft. This investment is part of a broader strategy to prepare for a challenging wildfire season, which Premier Susan Holt declared two weeks early this year due to concerns over record-low precipitation levels and a lack of snow.

The government has also spent $6.7 million to increase the number of year-round firefighting forest rangers to 169, up from 95. Current conditions, while showing slight improvement, remain a concern. The most recent federal drought monitor report indicates abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions across much of the province, a situation that follows extreme drought conditions recorded in some areas earlier this...