'This is a provincial responsibility': Province attempting to extend air tanker coverage to southwest Sask.

The Government of Saskatchewan is working to extend its air tanker capabilities to the southwest as wildfires rage across the border in Alberta. However, the province has hit a roadblock in its efforts.

The Government of Saskatchewan is working to extend its air tanker capabilities to the southwest as wildfires rage across the border in Alberta. However, the province has hit a roadblock in its efforts.

The province has a fleet of air tankers based in northern Saskatchewan, but few airports in the south are capable of handling them, according to Peter Boniface, executive director of aviation operations with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).

“There has been some discussion around that. We do have what we call a satellite base in Estevan but we have been speaking with other airports like Swift Current for example,” he told CTV News.

The province wants a maximum 20 minute aircraft response time to a developing grassfire in the southwest.

The problem is that Swift Current’s runway is too short to handle an air tanker.

“At the moment the limitation is the length of the runway so they would have to lengthen the runway for us to be able to operate in the south,” Boniface added.

Last month, provincial officials made the City of Swift Current an offer.