A Parksville-area helicopter company is off to fight forest fires at night in Alberta.
The crew from Ascent Helicopters arrived in Alberta on Sunday to do some initial training with personnel there, according to Trent Lemke, owner of Ascent Helicopters.
Ascent has experience doing search and rescue and air ambulance operations at night, but this will be their first night-time firefighting contract, he added.
B次元官网网址淚n the U.S. they do it quite a bit,B次元官网网址� he said.
AscentB次元官网网址檚 purpose-built tanks on the bottom of their helicopters, combined with night vision use will bolster forest fire fighting efforts by allowing crews to B次元官网网址渁ctionB次元官网网址� a blaze throughout the night, Lemke said.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 a high-priority fire you can stay with it, where traditionally weB次元官网网址檙e pulling off just before dark,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f there is [ground] personnel that theyB次元官网网址檙e going to leave on the fires, normally if they donB次元官网网址檛 have aircraft backup they canB次元官网网址檛 action the fire. They can only do light duties until thereB次元官网网址檚 a backup or emergency back in plan to get them out of there.B次元官网网址�
AscentB次元官网网址檚 contract with the Alberta government is for the next five summers. Its chopper will be one of three working as part of AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 new developmental program. The Ascent helicopter will have a crew of six rotating in and out of Alberta over the summer.
READ MORE:
The water tanks were developed approximately 20 years ago for the province of B.C., Lemke said, specially built for firefighting operations.
B次元官网网址淎lberta is quite anxious to try one out and see how it works with this program,B次元官网网址� he added.
Lemke is hopeful that some day night-time operations can be used in B.C.
B次元官网网址淭o me it only makes sense, but thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of factors involved in it for sure.B次元官网网址�
Ascent Helicopters has been active for close to 20 years, carrying out specialized flight services to a variety of government and industry clients including BC Hydro, MOFLNR Rapattack Program, Crescent Spur Heli Skiing, BC Air Ambulance, film and mining and resource exploration.
In 2023, it was awarded a $554.4-million contract to supply new aircraft to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to deliver helicopter emergency medical services.
The company has bases in Parksville and Fernie.
