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CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Absolutely critical': Teched out new planes lead B.C. wildfire response
Before an aircraft in British Columbia drops water on a wildfire or crews attack flames from the ground, a pilot like Rob Verstraten gets there first. 'We really have to size up the fire. We have to see what terrain and hazards we have to deal with,' Verstraten said. Verstraten flies in one of two new TBM 960 Air Attack planes from Conair Aerial Firefighting, known as 'birddogs,' alongside a provincial air attack officer. Together, they orchestrate the aerial response to a wildfire. It's a crucial role, according to Conair's director of business development. 'The role of the birddog team is absolutely critical to a mission. Without a strong birddog team your operation won't be safe, effective, or efficient,' said Michael Benson said. Benson says the two new birddogs are the most modern in the world, and cost roughly $10 million based on the purchase price paid by Conair and 13 modifications the Abbotsford, B.C.-based company made to maximize their effectiveness at fighting fires. The installed technology includes advanced weather sensors to detect lightning and infrared cameras. 'When you're flying over a fire, you can see the hot spots of the fire, and that displays itself in real time on a screen inside the cockpit. It allows the birddog team to make some real-time decisions to pinpoint accuracy around where they put retardant or fire-suppressing water,' Benson said. There are several factors taken into consideration when deciding whether to send in an air tanker filled with water or flame retardant, according to Eric Antifaeff from the B.C. Wildfire Service. 'The retardant is long term,' said the superintendent of air tanker operations. 'We drop it adjacent to the burning flame front, and it slows the growth of the fire. And then we could follow up with water to bring down the intensity and increase how long the retard is effective.' Kamloops provincial wildfire co-ordination centre The Kamloops provincial wildfire co-ordination centre is pictured in June 2025. (Andrew Johnson / CTV News) The birddog crew will decide what to drop on the fire and when, and will rehearse the route air tankers will take before calling in the larger planes to make their drops. Verstraten explained, 'We will test it ourselves first, acting as a tanker. We need to be able to operate in all the speed ranges that a tanker would typically operate in.' When a wildfire call comes in to the Kamloops, B.C., provincial co-ordination centre, the two-person crew can fire up the birddog in only five minutes. An air tanker can be filled with a full load of retardant in only a matter of eight minutes, taking off in 10. But, Antifaeff points out, the aerial attack is only part of the wildfire fighting equation. Rob Verstraten Pilot Rob Verstraten is shown. (Andrew Johnson / CTV News) 'I think the biggest misconception out there is that aircraft put out fires. We're just there to support the ground resources. You can have the best fleet in the world, but if it's not followed up by ground crews, heavy equipment and that kind of stuff, you're not going to be successful in fighting fires.' For pilots like Verstraten, who are trained to push emotion aside as wildfire is threatening a community, the reward is in the results. 'We really get a lot of satisfaction out of keeping people safe and trying to prevent any loss of life or property,' he said.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Sask. Opposition decries grounded firefighting planes, government blames inspections and maintenance
Social Sharing Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP repeated criticisms of the provincial government's use of water bombers on Wednesday, with the province responding that planes were grounded due to mandatory inspections and necessary maintenance. At a news conference Wednesday, the NDP focused on four firefighting aircraft in the province's fleet that have been idle during recent firefighting efforts. "Frankly, it sounded unbelievable that in the type of fire season that we've seen that it could be possible that there were planes within the provincial fleet that weren't seeing service" Saskatchewan NDP Leader Beck said on Wednesday. "I can only imagine how incredibly frustrating that is to some of the folks who lost their homes." The Saskatchewan government has four Convair 580A land-based air tankers and six CL-215T Turbine powered water bombers in its firefighting fleet, along with a host of smaller aircraft used to guide the tankers. Four of those aircraft, two air tankers and two water bombers, have been idle during the province's firefighting efforts. The NDP also previously brought attention to an additional brand new water bomber, a Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker, that the province took delivery of on May 30, but has not used yet. WATCH | Sask. blames maintenance for firefighting planes left unused: Sask. blames maintenance for firefighting planes left unused 2 hours ago Duration 2:16 Saskatchewan's Opposition is criticizing the provincial government's use of water bombers. The province said some planes were out of service due to mandatory inspections, firefighting fatigue, and a lack of available parts. In a statement on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan government said the two water bombers were grounded due to required structural inspections and the two air tankers were not used due to a lack of available parts. It also said two other water bombers were unavailable for five days due to mandatory inspections that came sooner than inspected due to heavy usage. "This is a normal part of operating any air fleet," it said of the inspections and mechanical deficiencies. "Furthermore, there is a national, critical shortage of qualified and experienced aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs). We have filled some vacancies by partnering with schools to fill positions with apprentices to build our capacity in the future." That shortage was why the Dash 8-Q400AT air tanker was bought, the statement said. Responding earlier this week to criticism of that plane's lack of usage, Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said its pilots hadn't yet been certified to fly it. Trespassing allegations On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) announced that its front-line staff had reported "a group of individuals were found attempting to trespass at SPSA air operations base in La Ronge, disrupting the work of staff and increasing the risk of endangering themselves and others." "At any time — but especially during a wildfire crisis — it is unacceptable for anyone to interfere with wildfire and emergency personnel operations," the SPSA said. Soon after that, the Saskatchewan NDP released a statement that seemed to connect that announcement with the Opposition party. On Monday, Carla Beck shot a video outside of the La Ronge Airport calling attention to the grounded planes, which the NDP released on social media the following day. On Wednesday, the NDP called the SPSA statement a "desperate, ridiculous, and a blatant attempt to distract from the fact that nearly half of their air tankers were secretly grounded during the worst wildfires in a decade." Later Wednesday, during a daily update on wildfires in the province, SPSA's president and fire commissioner Marlo Pritchard clarified that the alleged trespassing was a separate incident and did not involve the NDP video shoot. He said it involved a group of people approaching and trying to walk through a gate to the airport during the late afternoon on Monday. Pritchard also said one of the grounded air tankers should be operational by the end of June, but did not provide a timeline for the other three aircraft. Moderate weather helps firefighters: SPSA The SPSA also said during the update that moderate weather had dampened the growth of the fires. There were 17 wildfires active in the province as of the update , with four listed as contained, four not contained, seven undergoing assessment, and two with firefighters focusing on protecting valuable buildings and infrastructure. "None of the four significant fires have grown in any shape or form or have posed any new risks or threats," SPSA vice president of operations Steve Roberts said. Five communities in the province are still under evacuation orders: Cumberland House, Creighton, Denare Beach, East Trout Lake and Whelan Bay. Pritchard said about 500 homes have been lost in the fires. About half of those are classified as primary residences, while the rest are cabins and mobile homes.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Sask. NDP say new water bomber grounded due to lack of pilots, province says training to resume in July
Conair Dash 8-400AT Airtankers are parked on the tarmac in Abbotsford, B.C., Friday, April. 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns The Saskatchewan NDP says the province nearly lost one of its brand-new water bombers when flames breached the La Ronge airport earlier this month – due to no qualified pilots being able to fly it. Citing publicly available flight information, the Opposition NDP says the Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker was delivered to the province on May 30 – flying from Conair's facility in Abbotsford, B.C. to the La Ronge area. The bomber has not flown since. The NDP says this is because the province has not hired or trained a pilot to operate it. Furthermore, the NDP say that sources claim the plane was nearly lost on June 2 – as personnel had to physically push it to another area of the La Ronge airport to prevent it from being lost to the flames. 'While people were fleeing their homes and communities were burning, the Sask. Party left a brand new and badly needed air tanker sitting on the tarmac,' NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said during an event Monday morning. 'The moment this plane arrived; the government should have brought it into action dumping water on the fires burning our communities.' Sask. water bomber flight log (Courtesy: Saskatchewan NDP) Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod said he first learned of the NDP's accusations on Monday, and called it 'unfortunate' that the Opposition is choosing to 'politicize a wildfire state of emergency and tragedy.' 'This is not a situation where we had resources that were available that were left on the table or in this case left on the tarmac,' McLeod said. According to minister, due to the plane arriving once the state of emergency was declared – a decision was made to reallocate the pilots that were training to fly the new aircraft. 'The first of those planes did arrive after we had already declared a state of emergency on or about May 30, the reality of the situation is we were already in a state of emergency, the pilots that had been training to operate that plane had received all of the simulator training that they could until that time,' McLeod said. However, he added that to comply with Transport Canada regulations – the requirement is that the pilots would still need to train in the physical aircraft before it could be used. 'The operational decision was made not to remove those four pilots from active duty fighting fires and protecting our communities so that they could train on the new plane, but rather to continue protecting our communities and saving lives,' McLeod said. He added that it remains a primary focus to have the four pilots complete the training and to use the aircraft during the 2025 wildfire season. Responding to the question of why the province couldn't hire other personnel to pilot the new plane – SPSA vice president Steve Roberts said that all available pilots trained to operate the Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker, are currently doing so. 'Everybody who's certified to fly one of those aircraft in a firefighting role is flying that aircraft in a firefighting role,' he said. 'That's the bottom line is these are not generic positions. These are specialized positions on a specialized aircraft type they can't be hired off the street.' Rogers says the agency's training program is expected to continue in July.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Sask. NDP say new water bomber almost lost in La Ronge wildfire due to lack of pilots
Conair Dash 8-400AT Airtankers are parked on the tarmac in Abbotsford, B.C., Friday, April. 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns The Saskatchewan NDP says the province nearly lost one of its brand-new water bombers when flames breached the La Ronge airport earlier this month – due to no qualified pilots being able to fly it. Citing publicly available flight information, the Opposition NDP says the Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker was delivered to the province on May 30 – flying from Conair's facility in Abbotsford, B.C. to the La Ronge area. The bomber has not flown since. The NDP says this is because the province has not hired or trained a pilot to operate it. Furthermore, the NDP say that sources claim the plane was nearly lost on June 2 – as personnel had to physically push it to another area of the La Ronge airport to prevent it from being lost to the flames. 'While people were fleeing their homes and communities were burning, the Sask. Party left a brand new and badly needed air tanker sitting on the tarmac,' NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said during an event Monday morning. 'The moment this plane arrived; the government should have brought it into action dumping water on the fires burning our communities.' Sask. water bomber flight log (Courtesy: Saskatchewan NDP) Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod said he first learned of the NDP's accusations on Monday, and called it 'unfortunate' that the Opposition is choosing to 'politicize a wildfire state of emergency and tragedy.' 'This is not a situation where we had resources that were available that were left on the table or in this case left on the tarmac,' McLeod said. According to minister, due to the plane arriving once the state of emergency was declared – a decision was made to reallocate the pilots that were training to fly the new aircraft. 'The first of those planes did arrive after we had already declared a state of emergency on or about May 30, the reality of the situation is we were already in a state of emergency, the pilots that had been training to operate that plane had received all of the simulator training that they could until that time,' McLeod said. However, he added that to comply with Transport Canada regulations – the requirement is that the pilots would still need to train in the physical aircraft before it could be used. 'The operational decision was made not to remove those four pilots from active duty fighting fires and protecting our communities so that they could train on the new plane, but rather to continue protecting our communities and saving lives,' McLeod said. He added that it remains a primary focus to have the four pilots complete the training and to use the aircraft during the 2025 wildfire season. Responding to the question of why the province couldn't hire other personnel to pilot the new plane – SPSA vice president Steve Rogers said that all available pilots trained to operate the Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker, are currently doing so. 'Everybody who's certified to fly one of those aircraft in a firefighting role is flying that aircraft in a firefighting role,' he said. 'That's the bottom line is these are not generic positions. These are specialized positions on a specialized aircraft type they can't be hired off the street.' Rogers says the agency's training program is expected to continue in July.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
She starred in iconic 90s teen drama that made household names of her co-stars... can you guess who it is?
This actress embodied the quintessential girl-next-door in a fictional Massachusetts coastal town on a legendary 90s teen drama - a groundbreaking series that catapulted many of its stars into lasting Hollywood fame. Think you know who it is? Born in Texas and raised in Illinois after her parents' separation, this star discovered a passion for the performing arts early on and went on to pursue a modeling career in New York City after graduating high school. Before ever stepping onto a film set, she quietly built a presence behind the scenes - appearing on product packaging like a Conair hair crimper and on the covers of five books in the iconic Nancy Drew mystery series. In 1996, she finally made her television debut in a Tylenol Sinus commercial, a small but significant step that opened the door to future roles on screen. That same year, her modeling career soared as she landed spots in a wave of television commercials and magazine ads for major brands, including L'Oreal hair-care, Disney Resort, Huffy bicycles, Ford cars, and Mattel toys. Her early modeling success quickly led her to a real film set, where she stepped into the role of a confident, determined young teacher facing the harsh realities of a tough inner-city school in an episode of ABC's Dangerous Minds. Her growing exposure soon earned her a small recurring role on the short-lived 90s drama Sunset Beach, where she played a pregnant teenager navigating life in a tight-knit California town where everybody knows everybody's business. However, it wasn't until her sun-kissed blonde hair, approachable smile and all-American charm landed her a series regular role on a beloved '90s drama that she truly cemented her place in television history. This actress portrayed a cheerful, high-achieving blonde teenager who, beneath her sunny, determined exterior, wrestled with profound personal struggles - including anxiety, depression and complex family trauma. Navigating Capeside High School alongside her friends as they transitioned to college and adulthood, she quickly became a fan favorite over three seasons - her character playing a pivotal role in reshaping how television addressed mental health. With a career spanning over 25 years, this star has amassed more than 80 acting credits across a diverse array of films, television shows and guest appearances. Have you been able to guess who it is yet? It's Meredith Monroe! The now 55-year-old actress masterfully captured the vulnerable and emotionally layered essence of 14-year-old Andie McPhee - the somewhat stubborn, preppy blonde teen at the core of the hit 90s drama, Dawson's Creek. Running for six seasons, the series saw Monroe become an essential presence after joining the main cast in season two, where she was introduced as fiercely intelligent but troubled girl with an unrelenting drive for success. Her arrival at Capeside High School added a new layer of emotional depth to the series, as she stepped into the story while grieving the loss of her brother, Tim, and caring for a mentally ill mother. Andie was one of the earliest characters on mainstream TV to openly grapple with mental health struggles - a bold and groundbreaking departure from the norms of TV at the time. She embodied the kind of character who tries to fix everything - when she's quietly unraveling herself. Though she cared deeply for her group of friends, Andie brought a layer of realistic complexity to the teen series, as the show portrayed her own gradual downfall under the weight of family trauma and the pressure to maintain good grades. Monroe's character also marked a turning point for Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), whose relationship with her sparked significant emotional and academic growth, helping him mature in ways the series hadn't previously explored. She also played a legendary role in one of the most revolutionary LGBTQ+ storylines on television at the time, with her unwavering support for her brother Jack after he came out. Throughout Monroe's time on the show, her character's mental health steadily deteriorated, ultimately leading her to push Pacey away at times. Her notable departure from the show come Season 4 was intricately aligned with her character's arc, as she chose to study abroad after years of grappling with her own emotional well-being. She also played a legendary role in one of the most revolutionary LGBTQ+ storylines on television at the time, with her unwavering support for her brother Jack after he came out serving as a powerful message of acceptance After leaving the show in 2000, she returned to the Dawson's Creek universe to film the graduation episode. The beloved show served as a launching pad for several actors who would go on to become household names including Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson. While Monroe didn't achieve the same level of Hollywood fame as some of her co-stars, she has maintained a steady and consistent television career since her departure. Since then, she has found success with the ABC film The One, a major role in ABC series Married to the Kellys, and a small appearance in Minority Report. More recently, she has landed recurring roles on Criminal Minds, Hart of Dixie and 13 Reasons Why, along with numerous guest appearances on a variety of popular shows. In 1999, Monroe married Steven Kavovit, a massage therapist. Together, the pair have two children together and reside in Calabasas, California.
