Nova Scotia getting new helicopters to fight wildfires [Video]

HALIFAX –

The Nova Scotia government says it has a $25-million deal with aerospace giant Airbus for four new helicopters to fight wildfires.

The deal was signed last winter but Tory Rushton, natural resources minister, released the details Thursday, saying the new aircraft will replace the four helicopters the province uses as water bombers.

Money from a trade-in or sale of the existing helicopters will be used to bring down the purchase price of the new aircraft, he told reporters.

Rushton said the new purchase is necessary because expected maintenance of the existing helicopters was “going to cost a lot of money.”

“So the trade-in value for the four helicopters helps us with the purchase of the next four,” he said. The department said the first of the new helicopters is expected to be delivered next summer.

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