SAN DIEGO --
Local firefighters have two new weapons to help them battle wildfires.
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The Bombardier CL-415 Superscoopers will be on call in San Diego County for the next three months, during the height of wildfire season. The amphibious aircraft can converge on brush fires with large drops of water and foam.
County supervisors leased the Superscoopers from the government of Quebec.
"These can drop a lot of water over a larger area, and relatively rapidly," said Ben Carrier of the Quebec Government Air Service. "A helicopter -- it's easier to hit smaller spots and crevices -- places we would have a hard time going down to."
The Superscooper can fly in winds over 50 miles per hour. It can also stay in the air for three to five hours, depending on conditions.
The planes made their debut during a demonstration of the aircraft at Fiesta Island on Mission Bay.
