Provinces struggling to hire firefighting pilots as wildfires burn across Canada

Some regions turning to expensive private contractors to prevent shortages of pilots and aircraft

Kate Schneider
Kate Schneider is a U.K.-based reporter with experience working at the Oxford Political Review and the Canadian Law Review. Her work has also been published by the CBC.
More posts by Kate Schneider.
Anusha Siddiqui
Anusha Siddiqui is an investigative reporting intern with Humber College’s StoryLab.
More posts by Anusha Siddiqui.

Kate Schneider,
Anusha Siddiqui

28 May, 2024 • 8 min read

A person inside a helicopter gesturing to a forest in the distance that is billowing heavy smoke.

Manitoba Wildfire Service area fire manager Sam Done surveys wildfires burning in northern Manitoba from a helicopter on May 14. (The Canadian Press/David Lipnowski)

In May 2011, residents of Slave Lake, Alta., fled as their town became engulfed by a raging wildfire.

“It was a really hot fire,” recalled Peter Marsh, a retired water bomber captain who previously worked for the Ontario government for 30 years.

Provinces struggling to hire firefighting pilots as wildfires burn across Canada

Kate Schneider

Anusha Siddiqui

Kate Schneider,
Anusha Siddiqui

Exposing lies and revealing how tax dollars are spent

As wildfires blaze across Canada, municipalities want more federal support to prepare for natural disasters

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