Home / Environment / Ontario Invests C$650M in Wildfire Fighting Helicopters
Ontario Invests C$650M in Wildfire Fighting Helicopters
17 Jul
Summary
- Ontario will spend C$650 million on new firefighting aircraft.
- The investment includes five new helicopters and six water bombers.
- Wildfires have burned 650,000 acres in the province so far.
Ontario announced a substantial investment of C$650 million to bolster its wildfire response efforts. This funding will be used to acquire five new helicopters and six new water bombers, aimed at combating the rapid spread of wildfires across the province.
Premier Doug Ford stated that the province will spare no expense in ensuring community safety, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The fires are currently concentrated in the remote northwest of Ontario, where air access is the only viable transportation method.
As of Friday, July 17, 2026, 650,000 acres have been affected by fires, a slight increase compared to the same period last year. Ontario has already deployed 150 ground crews and more than 80 aerial units, including water bombers and helicopters, to manage the ongoing crisis.
