Canada expands aerial firefighting capacity after record wildfires

The Government of Canada is investing CA$316.7 million over five years to expand the nation’s aerial firefighting capacity, officials announced on 20 February. The funding, drawn from the Budget 2025 commitment, will be directed to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) to lease, manage, and deploy federally funded aircraft for wildfire response.

The move comes after Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record in 2025, which followed the historic 2023 season. Millions of hectares burned across multiple provinces and territories, forcing tens of thousands of evacuations and creating widespread smoke that affected air quality across Canada and into the USA.

The recent funding will allow the Centre to secure aircraft, personnel, and maintenance support to boost provincial and territorial capacity during periods of intense wildfire activity. CIFFC has already issued a request for proposals to ensure aircraft are ready for the 2026 season, with submissions due on 23 March.

“Following the second worst wildfire season in our history, our government is showing leadership and making bold investments that will provide critical support to provinces and territories,” said Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “The aircraft leased by CIFFC using this funding will help frontline firefighters respond faster, slow the spread, and minimize the impact of wildfires on communities across Canada for 2026 and future wildfire seasons.”

“This investment will strengthen our ability to keep Canadians safe from the threats posed by wildfire, by providing provinces and territories with critical firefighting capacity when they need it most,” added Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “By acting now, we are helping protect lives, homes, and communities for years to come.”

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has awarded type certification to the Airbus H175, opening the door for the aircraft type’s entry into the Canadian market.