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.

含羞草研究社淚n the U.S. they do it quite a bit,含羞草研究社� he said.

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

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

Ascent含羞草研究社檚 contract with the Alberta government is for the next five summers. Its chopper will be one of three working as part of Alberta含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

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

含羞草研究社淭o me it only makes sense, but there含羞草研究社檚 lots of factors involved in it for sure.含羞草研究社�

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.