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Newfoundland and Labrador buys two new water bombers

March 26, 2014, Gander, N.L. – The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is buying two new water bombers for almost US$74 million to fight forest fires.

Transportation and Works Minister Nick McGrath  says the Bombardier 415 aircraft will replace decades-old water bombers.

The first water bomber will be delivered this spring, with the second arriving in September 2015.

He says that with the two planes, the province will have four Bombardier 415 water bombers, one CL-215 water bomber and one Cessna spotter for fighting fires.

The fleet is spread across five bases from Wabush to Deer Lake and St. John's.

McGrath says that on average, there are 80 to 100 forest fires a year that need to be fought through aerial and ground efforts.