A water bomber from Quebec that was forced to land due to a collision with a drone while combatting wildfires in California is anticipated to resume operations today.
Sarah Bensadoun, spokesperson for the Quebec Transport Ministry, stated that the aircraft, which was grounded last week, is now back in service.
In a text message sent on Tuesday morning, Bensadoun mentioned, “The repairs have been completed, and the test flights have been successful.”
According to firefighters in Los Angeles County, the two Quebec water bombers currently deployed in the area are crucial as they are the only planes capable of utilizing ocean water to extinguish the fires.
Two additional planes from Quebec are being dispatched to the Santa Maria wine region further up the coast. Bensadoun indicated that they are scheduled to depart the province on Wednesday but might face delays due to cold weather or frost.
It will take them two days to fly to California, potentially beginning their service on Friday, as per Bensadoun.
CBC News observes how Canadian pilots are contributing to the firefighting efforts against the Los Angeles wildfires from the air, amidst preparations for increased fire activity. The region is expecting Santa Ana winds exceeding 100 km/h in the coming days, posing additional challenges for the firefighters.
The sheriff of L.A. County reported two arrests made overnight in relation to a drone incident, although they seem unrelated to the drone that struck the Quebec aircraft last Thursday.
In an email statement to CBC News, the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) confirmed that it is collaborating with the FBI to identify the individuals involved in the drone incident with the Quebec water bomber.
“The FAA is working closely with law enforcement, including the FBI, to identify the drone operator,” stated the FAA. “Interfering with firefighting operations on public lands is a federal offense punishable by up to 12 months in prison.”
The operator of a drone could face fines and imprisonment following a collision with a Quebec water bomber during wildfire suppression efforts in parts of the