The Gimli Airport is playing an important role in the provincial government’s firefighting efforts of forest and grass fires in Manitoba.
The airport was running full tilt last week to keep a fleet of Babcock water bombers fuelled for the firefight in eastern Manitoba and other locations.
Gimli councillor Andy Damm said the airport is always ready to step up to help the province in its firefighting efforts.
“CYGM [Gimli Airport] has been and hopefully will continue to be a base for the strategic deployment of provincial airborne firefighting assets,” said Damm, who is a retired commercial airline pilot, has liaised with the provincial and federal governments on airport matters and was recently appointed to the municipality’s newly formed Airport Working Group.
Manitoba’s fire season got off to an early start this year with extensive swathes of dry territory left unquenched by snowmelt and too little precipitation, coupled with days of intensely hot temperatures and high winds that aided in the alarming spread of some fires.
A man and a woman died in the RM of Lac du Bonnet last week when they could not evacuate during a raging fire. The RCMP recovered their bodies on May 14.
“The RCMP was made aware on May 13th these individuals were trapped in the fire, however, due to extreme conditions, emergency personnel were not able to reach their location until the following day,” said the RCMP in a May 14 news release.
Water bombers fighting the fires last week were temporarily interrupted when someone flew a drone near the fire zone, endangering firefighting crews.
“RCMP would also like to remind people that the area around the fire zone is a restricted air space, and the use of drones is not permitted, as it significantly impedes the work of all air support fighting the fire,” said the service.
The human-caused fire near Lac du Bonnet had grown to 4,008 hectares by last Friday (May 17) and was still burning out of control, according to the province’s FireView Map. A massive naturally caused fire that’s engulfed Nopiming Provincial Park and areas outside the park in eastern Manitoba was also still burning out of control as of last Friday. It had grown to 101,689 hectares. And a human-caused fire north of Selkirk had grown to 5,000 hectares but was “being held.”
Manitoba Hydro crews were restoring power to areas affected by the wildfires in the eastern part of the province. The utility was able to “re-energize” about 900 customers along the Lee River on May 14. About 500 remained without power on May 15 in a number of other areas in the wildfire zone.
“Manitoba Hydro crews are now able to safely access some areas with significant fire damage, including burnt and fallen poles, power lines, transformers and other equipment,” said Hydro in a May 15 news release. “Construction crews staged in Lac du Bonnet Wednesday night [May 14] and were able to begin work on Wendigo Road as soon as it became accessible today. The extent of damage is still being assessed and may require complex repairs, so it’s too soon to provide estimated times of restoration.”
The provincial government announced last month it’s upgrading its firefighting fleet with an $80-million investment in three new water bombers, DH Canadair 515 Firefighter aircraft that will be made in Canada.
“Upgrading our fleet with these three new DHC-515 Firefighter waterbombers reflects our commitment to ensure that our front-line firefighters have the tools they need to protect Manitobans,” said Manitoba premier Wab Kinew in an April 25 news release. “We’re protecting the people of Manitoba along with their communities, property and valued forests from the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in a manner that aligns with our Canada-first approach by ensuring these aircrafts are made in Canada.”
The Gimli Airport is home to four water bombers (CL-415 turbine aircraft), two bird dogs – aircraft that spot fires and help water bombers get into prime attack position – aircraft maintenance personnel and pilots. They play an important role protecting Manitobans, property and the environment.
The RM of Gimli’s community engagement manager Christine Payne said the Gimli Airport will continue to provide emergency support services throughout the season.
“Gimli Airport is currently experiencing high operational demand as it supports provincial wildfire suppression efforts. With firefighting aircraft on high alert, fuel consumption has surged—prompting priority resupply efforts to maintain readiness,” she said. “While typically not as active, the airport is committed to supporting emergency operations when called upon.”
Gimli Airport’s manager Brian Renaud ensures the airport “remains operational” through the supply of fuel needed for aircraft and having the communications in place to support the aircraft.
Council approved the creation of the Gimli Airport Working Group at its May 14 meeting. An earlier resolution at council’s April 9 meeting had appointed Damm, Renaud and the RM’s assistant CAO Kelly Cosgrove to sit on the working group.
They will, among a number of duties, work towards re-negotiating an operating agreement with the provincial government, which owns the airport.
“Once the document [operating agreement with the province] is finalized, the requirement for an AWG will continue although the composition and role may be subject to revision. All decision points during the negotiations and subsequent roles conducted by the RM of Gimli shall be brought to the RM Council prior to commitments being made,” states the working group’s terms of reference.
The group will also look at matters pertaining to capital investment in the asset, operational responsibilities and associated costs with a view to having a “break-even operating cost with the RM,” future staffing levels via RM employees or contracted service providers and future equipment requirements to support and sustain the airport.
The Gimli Airport is considered a “strategic asset from the provincial perspective,” according to background material supplied by Payne. And the regional economic spinoffs make it of “critical interest” to the municipality.
