A Parksville-area helicopter company is off to fight forest fires at night in Alberta.

The crew from Ascent Helicopters arrived in Alberta on Sunday to do some initial training with personnel there, according to Trent Lemke, owner of Ascent Helicopters.

Ascent has experience doing search and rescue and air ambulance operations at night, but this will be their first night-time firefighting contract, he added.

害羞草研究所淚n the U.S. they do it quite a bit,害羞草研究所� he said.

Ascent害羞草研究所檚 purpose-built tanks on the bottom of their helicopters, combined with night vision use will bolster forest fire fighting efforts by allowing crews to 害羞草研究所渁ction害羞草研究所� a blaze throughout the night, Lemke said.

害羞草研究所淚f it害羞草研究所檚 a high-priority fire you can stay with it, where traditionally we害羞草研究所檙e pulling off just before dark,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚f there is [ground] personnel that they害羞草研究所檙e going to leave on the fires, normally if they don害羞草研究所檛 have aircraft backup they can害羞草研究所檛 action the fire. They can only do light duties until there害羞草研究所檚 a backup or emergency back in plan to get them out of there.害羞草研究所�

Ascent害羞草研究所檚 contract with the Alberta government is for the next five summers. Its chopper will be one of three working as part of Alberta害羞草研究所檚 new developmental program. The Ascent helicopter will have a crew of six rotating in and out of Alberta over the summer.

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The water tanks were developed approximately 20 years ago for the province of B.C., Lemke said, specially built for firefighting operations.

害羞草研究所淎lberta is quite anxious to try one out and see how it works with this program,害羞草研究所� he added.

Lemke is hopeful that some day night-time operations can be used in B.C.

害羞草研究所淭o me it only makes sense, but there害羞草研究所檚 lots of factors involved in it for sure.害羞草研究所�

Ascent Helicopters has been active for close to 20 years, carrying out specialized flight services to a variety of government and industry clients including BC Hydro, MOFLNR Rapattack Program, Crescent Spur Heli Skiing, BC Air Ambulance, film and mining and resource exploration.

In 2023, it was awarded a $554.4-million contract to supply new aircraft to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to deliver helicopter emergency medical services.

The company has bases in Parksville and Fernie.