New Tanker Base Unveiled
Feature story posted on September 13, 2007
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| Ted Morton, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, speaks at the opening of the new airtanker base at the Springbank Airport. |
Southern Alberta communities will now reap the benefits of improved wildfire fighting capabilities thanks to a $6.5 million investment by the Government of Alberta.
A new airtanker base at Springbank Airport, west of Calgary, was officially opened on September 9. Nearly 500 people attended an open house and had a chance to take an up-close look at nine airtankers on display.
“It was great to have so many people come out and learn more about how the province protects homes and communities from wildfire,” said Ted Morton, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development, one of the local officials on hand to open the airtanker base. “This base will provide a real strategic advantage for firefighters by allowing for faster response times in the area.”
Morton talked about the importance of the new Springbank airtanker base, which has been operational since July, saying it provides communities west of Calgary with better protection from wildfires. The new facility enables SRD to meet its goal of responding to wildfires within 30 minutes of being detected. Fast response times are crucial in a wildfire situation.
“The Eastern Slopes play an important role in Albertans’ quality of life,” said Morton. “Protecting the area from wildfires is a critical objective that will be better served with this new airtanker base.”
Morton also thanked SRD’s firefighters for the hard work they do protecting Alberta’s forest resources.
Alberta’s firefighting aircraft were previously based at the Calgary International Airport until 2003, when increased traffic at the airport necessitated the move to a new site. During the 2004, 2005 and 2006 wildfire seasons, airtanker bases in Pincher Creek and Rocky Mountain House provided wildfire protection west of Calgary.
Upgrades completed at the Springbank airport to accommodate the new airtanker base included the strengthening of existing runways, development of new access roads and construction of new buildings.
