Municipal councillor floats idea of water bomber for Kings County, N.S.

COLDBROOK, N.S. — A Kings County municipal councillor would like to see a fixed-wing water bomber and support staff stationed at 14 Wing Greenwood to protect the region from wildfires.

Dick Killam acknowledged it is merely an idea at this time and something that would take more work by staff to explore the possibilities. He acknowledged it would be an “expensive endeavour” and said, if approved, the project would have to be mostly funded by other levels government.

He floated the idea in a letter that was presented at the Jan. 23 committee of the whole meeting.

“It is well known that a fast response to wildfires is very important in preventing them from getting out of control as we have witnessed in the 2023 wildfire season in the Halifax and Yarmouth areas,” Killam wrote. “By having a water bomber with support team available in the ideal location of CFB Greenwood we could prevent future wildfire disasters in our region.”

Killam said in a phone interview after the meeting that the 2023 wildfires in Nova Scotia coupled with his sister-in-law having to escape the Fort McMurray, Alta., wildfires a few years ago were the impetus for him to bring forth the “proactive idea.”

“Climate change is happening and it’s just going to get worse,” he said.

Killam said he hadn’t spoken with anyone from CFB Greenwood yet and noted the concept was very preliminary.

“I don’t have a lot of information yet. It’s an idea,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

There are about 100 fixed-wing aircraft water bombers across the country but none in Nova Scotia. The province announced plans in December to use federal funding to replace its fleet of four helicopter water bombers during the next four years.

The province said it has existing arrangements with other provinces to share their aircraft when needed and that the wait list to buy a fixed-wing aircraft can be up to 10 years.

“There is still the conversation and debriefing going on from the 2023 wildfire season, and conversations about fixed-wing aircraft,” Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Terry Rushton said in December.

Killam had proposed having his council ask the neighbouring municipal units in Annapolis, Lunenburg, Kings and Hants counties for letters of support for the idea. Councillors suggested the first step should be reaching out to the province as it is responsible for wildland fire management.

“I think we might be getting a little bit ahead of ourselves,” said Coun. Joel Hirtle, noting he liked the thinking behind the idea. “We’re lacking in details.”

The county’s chief administrative officer will reach out to Kings North MLA John Lohr, the province’s minister responsible for the Emergency Management Office, to gather information.

“The initiative has to start somewhere,” Mayor Peter Muttart said.