Announcement About Wildfire Response Aircraft
The Province has contracted four Air Tractor AT-802 water bombers and one Cessna Caravan Bird Dog co-ordination plane to provide more wildfire protection for Nova Scotians. Premier Tim Houston and Natural Resources Minister Kim Masland made the announcement today, May 13, at the Debert air tanker base in Colchester County. The news release about the announcement is at: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/05/13/nova-scotia-contracts-four-fixed-wing-water-bombers
More photos of the aircraft are available at: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/05/13/province-contracts-water-bombers-wildfire-season
From left, Mike O’Blenis, CEO and Managing Director, Forest Protection Ltd.; Premier Tim Houston; Kim Masland, Minister of Natural Resources; and Tom Taggart, MLA for Colchester North, stand next to a fixed-wing water bomber. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Premier Tim Houston speaks during the announcement about the new fixed-wing water bombers today, May 13, in Debert, Colchester County. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Premier Tim Houston speaks during the announcement about the new fixed-wing water bombers today, May 13, in Debert, Colchester County. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Kim Masland, Minister of Natural Resources, speaks about the fixed-wing water bomber contract with Forest Protection Ltd. as media outlets film the moment. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Premier Tim Houston speaks with a Forest Protection Ltd. pilot during the event. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Kim Masland, Minister of Natural Resources, during the event. (Province of Nova Scotia)
Premier Tim Houston; Kim Masland, Minister of Natural Resources; Tom Taggart, MLA for Colchester North, and Mike O’Blenis, CEO and Managing Director, Forest Protection Ltd., with staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Forest Protection Ltd. (Province of Nova Scotia)