France is currently facing its most severe wildfire crisis since World War II, prompting criticism of the government’s preparedness for the fires. Amidst this, concerns have been raised about Canada’s capacity to assist in firefighting efforts. The vice-president of the forest fire defense department in Le Porge, Didou Deyres, highlighted the shortage of Canadair firefighting aircraft in France. Despite having 12 of these yellow water bombers, only seven were operational during the peak of the crisis. Deyres suggested that having more firefighting resources earlier could have made a significant difference.
The demand for Canadian-made water bombers, particularly the Canadair aircraft, has been increasing across Europe due to droughts and heatwaves fueling destructive fires. European countries have placed orders for 22 new Canadair 515 aircraft from De Havilland Canada since 2022. However, production delays mean that the first new planes are not expected to be delivered until 2028, with France likely waiting until 2032 for the second half of its order.
The Canadair aircraft, known for their efficiency in aerial firefighting, can scoop up to 6,000 liters of water in just 12 seconds. Neil Sweeney, the vice-president of operations at De Havilland Canada, emphasized the critical role these aircraft play in European firefighting operations. The recent surge in demand has sparked discussions about expanding production to meet the growing needs of governments.
While De Havilland is hesitant to expand production without firm orders, experts suggest that investing in modernizing production facilities could help maintain the company’s market dominance. As competition in the firefighting aircraft sector intensifies, there are concerns that delaying expansion could jeopardize Canada’s position in the market. The pressure to meet increasing demand for firefighting aircraft is pushing for swift action to ensure adequate firefighting resources are available in the face of escalating wildfire threats.
