Saskatchewan completes firefighting fleet hangar expansion

REGINA, SASK. – The province of Saskatchewan has opened an expansion to a hangar facility located in La Ronge, Sask. The four-year, nearly $14 million project is part of a renewal project to improve aerial firefighting capacity.

The hangar has been expanded by 40 per cent, with new equipment such as an overhead crane, an office and training centre, and a resurfaced floor. A full foam sprinkler system and a 60,000-gallon water tank for fire suppression and domestic water use have also been installed along with larger bottom-roller hangar doors and upgrades to hanger and tanker base aprons.

“This impressive facility will allow us to better support and maintain Saskatchewan’s firefighting aircraft. At the same time, it will allow us to enhance our ability to protect Saskatchewan people and the things that are truly important to them,” provincial environment minister Dustin Duncan said.

The improvements will give larger aircraft easier access to the hangar and will improve safety and add to the longevity of the facility, a provincial government release stated.

The province will also renew the fleet by purchasing an additional CL215T water-scooping air tanker, a $38 million aircraft that will replace Saskatchewan’s last piston engine tanker. The new plane is expected to join the fleet in time for the 2023 wildfire season.