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The new Dash-8s are helping battle the wildfire near Peachland

Air tankers stationed in Penticton already put to work
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The two new air tankers that just arrived at Penticton airport last week are already busy fighting the wildfire near Peachland. (Gary Haupt photo)

The two new Conair air tankers have been at Penticton Airport for less than a week and already they have been put to work fighting the wildfire near Peachland.

The B.C.-based Dash 8 air tankers landed in Penticton on Thursday, June 1, ready to help in the upcoming wildfire season.

On Monday, the aircraft were already working on the 33-hectare wildfire on Highway 97C outside of Peachland.

Multiple aerial resources are battling the fire and will be flying over Okanagan Lake. As of Tuesday, the out-of-control Pigeon Creek fire had reached 33 hectares. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown.

The two Dash 8s have replaced a trio of Conair planes that were retired from service.

The new air tankers carry 25 per cent more retardant and cruise 100 m/p/h faster than the old ones, according to Conair.

It was on Sept. 12 last year when Conair firefighting air tankers wrapped up work in Penticton for the season, but crews were forced to stick around for almost a week longer due to the 10,000-hectare Heather Lake wildfire near Manning Park.

Air tanker pilot Grahame Wilson also retired after fighting fires from the air for 39 years.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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