Fire concerns

The water bomber that shows up at the airport in Wabush every year around this time is out of commission and still on the island.

Wabush mayor Ron Barron said he just recently learned there are some structural issues that need to be addressed before the aircraft comes into Labrador West.

"I was given the timeline of maybe mid June before she gets in here," said Barron. "I don't think that is acceptable. I was told they were doing some training flights and whatever and the plane was damaged."

The mayor said as far as he knows, there are two water bombers on the ground in Gander and the Province ought to have one sent to Wabush to cover off in the interim.

Barron pointed out that the area has a lot of trees surrounding both towns and the potential for forest fires that time of year, coupled with the close proximity to the towns,makes him uneasy.

"We've had fires close to town in the past," he said. "There was one with the incinerator one time and without that plane, we would have been a lot worse off. I want to make sure we have that plane in here on the ground for any emergencies. This can't be a situation where it's 'out of sight, out of mind' I can tell you that."

Although he was told mid-June, Barron said there is no guarantee that it won't be even later.

Mayor Barron made contact with local MHA Jim Baker on this concern.

"He wasn't aware of the situation with the water bomber," Barron said of the conversation with Baker. "But he told me would check it out and see what's happening with it.