VANCOVUER, B.C. — The Martin Mars water bomber is back on Vancouver Island after helping to fight a wildfire near Nelson, B.C.
Provincial Fire Information Officer Ryan Turcot says the aged air tanker dropped nine loads on a wildfire burning near Boswell and Highway 3A Saturday, with each load carrying about 27,000 litres.
It was the first time in two years that the Martin Mars has been used to fight wildfires in B.C.
The provincial government signed a one-month contract earlier in July to use the water bomber.
Turcot says there are currently 154 blazes burning, down from 223 last weekend.
He says cooler weather is partly due to the drop in fire activity, but noted that several parts of the province saw hot, dry conditions once again over the weekend.
