Kelowna Wildfires – Where Are The Mars Water Bombers?

They’re in California.   On a contract.  Which is fine – they’re almost always on a contract because they’re privately owned by Coulson Aviation. Coulson can do whatever they want with their assets.

But I think they should be home, here in B.C. during the summer months and we as British Columbians should be willing to pay the incremental cost of having them here to save our homes.

Three homes were lost this past weekend during the fires that broke out on in Glenrosa.  That fire and the Rose Valley fire are now contained.  I’m thankful as a British Columbian that we have the resources we do to fight fires.

The aircraft and ground personnel did a great job considering the circumstances – incredible temperatures and 90 km/ hr winds.

I was on a boat watching…speechless *(unusual for me) as the fire suppression effort took place.

However, I couldn’t help but think how much more effective things would have been had we had the Mars Water Bombers on hand to more effectively and quickly put out the fire.

This video covers the subject further:

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As of this writing, the Terrace Mountain fire continues to burn.  This is British Columbia there are more trees than any other place on earth.  They are a valued and precious resource.  We should be doing everthing we can to protect that.

Photo Credit Kelly Hayes

I think the people in Victoria responsible for the fire protection budget should allocate some of it to ensure the Mars Bombers are in B.C. during the hot months.

There’s no good reason we should allow money to get in the way of saving life, natural resources and wildlife.

Surely those three families who lost their homes and the insurance companies that have to pay for them would agree… and what about the families that have been evacuated from Fintry?

We NEED those Mars Bombers here, in BC, in the Okanagan…now.

Do YOU agree?

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