Science & Tech
Canada’s famous fire-fighting aircraft save landscapes and people around the world
When wildfires burn at home and abroad, threatening forests and communities, Canada is there to answer the call with the Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper and its variants. These large yellow planes with huge wingspans scoop up tons of water to dump on the flames, slowing their spread.
The arrival of these Canadian-made aircraft to torched landscapes brings hope and is an important tool for Canadian diplomacy — “one of many resources we can share, either internally or internationally,” says Alexandria Jones, communications manager for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. “It’s definitely a sign of continued friendship and collaboration across borders, whether it is the U.S., Mexico or elsewhere.”
The most visible and recent example of this international cooperation is the long-standing lease agreement between the government of Quebec and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Every year since 1994, two Quebec owned planes, along with pilots and crew, are stationed in Los Angeles starting on Sept. 1 and remain there for up to 180 days. This year, in response to the devastating fires in Los Angeles, Quebec sent two additional planes with crew in January.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre also coordinates fire-fighting resources between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Costa Rica and Portugal. And mobilizing planes and crews around the world — in soon to be 10 countries plus the European Union — also benefits Canada when it comes time to fight fires in our own vast forests.
“It helps ensure that when Canada needs additional resources, we have these great relationships so that our partners will send people and resources our way,” says Jones.
The Super Scoopers are popular around the world because of their unique capabilities, says Jones. The amphibious planes can land on lakes or oceans, dealing with waves up to two metres high, and scoop up a huge amount of water. They then quickly deliver it to places too remote or too dangerous for ground-based firefighting. These daring exploits have cemented the plane’s and Canada’s legacy as expert firefighters ready to lend a helping hand.
After all, when people are close to a wildfire, it’s the “Canadairs” they ask for.
This story is from the July/August 2025 Issue
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