New Brunswick adds four Fire Bosses to its firefighting fleet

The provincial government of New Brunswick, Canada, has acquired four new AT-802 Fire Boss water-scooping aircraft to support its firefighting efforts.

The aircraft, which were showcased at an event at Fredericton International Airport on 19 May, are part a new contract with Forest Protection Limited, a special missions operator that has worked with the New Brunswick government for over 70 years.

The new aircraft complement a broader CA$6.7 million (US$4.9 million) investment in fire preparedness and prevention across the province.

New Brunswick’s wildfire season has begun early this year, due to record-low precipitation in 2025, minimal snowfall over the winter, and ongoing drought conditions.

“Amphibious aircraft were invaluable in helping us fight wildfires last summer, especially in some areas that were difficult to reach by land,” said John Herron, New Brunswick’s Natural Resources Minister. “As the risk of wildfires continues to grow, we must ensure our preparedness increases with it.”

Mike O’Blenis, CEO and Managing Director of Forest Protection, added that “by integrating wheeled and amphibious Fire Boss aircraft, we strengthen support to ground crews in high-risk and hard-to-access areas. Wheeled airtankers play a critical role in containing fires using retardant, foam or water, while Fire Boss aircraft help slow fire behavior through rapid water delivery, scooping and reloading in 20–30 seconds.”

The Canadian federal government recently announced plans to invest CA$316.7 million in its national aerial firefighting capacity over the next five years.