3 reasons why the Martin Mars water bomber isn't battling fire in Fort McMurray

The owner of British Columbia's iconic Martin Mars water bomber is responding to public criticism that thefirefightingplane should be helping put outfires in FortMcMurray,Alta.

People have been clamouring on social media for the plane, asymbol offirefightingprowess,to be put to work on the devastating fire enveloping parts ofnorthern Alberta.

"We have had several inquiries from the public and the media as to why the Mars is not working on the fire situation up in FortMcMurray," saidCoulsonFlying TankersownerWayneCoulsonin aFacebookpost.

"We understand the frustration of the public, especially in a case like this where a fire is consuming property and threatening lives."

• FortMcMurraywildfire could double in size by end of tomorrow: official

3 reasons

Coulsonsaid there are three main reasons why the 70-year-old plane hasn't been deployed the most salient being that no one has requested it.

"If there was a request by the Alberta government to contract the Martin Mars, we would do everything in our power to support the request," he said.

Furthermore,Coulsonsaid it's not as simple as just sending in the plane to fight the fires.

"No aircraft operator in the world can simply go and put out a fire," he said. "Even if they wanted to and if someone ever did, they would be facing serious criminal charges."

Lastly,Coulsonsaid, the Martin Mars is undergoing its annual inspection.

"Based on the fact no government has any interest whatsoever in the aircraft fighting fire, we have decided to take the Mars to the Oshkosh Air Show in late July in hopes of finding another business or home for it," he said.

Coulsonsaid the companyhas offered Alberta another large tanker to use, but it hasn't been taken up on that offer either.

The company issued the statement in part because of a2011 CBC article circulating onFacebookabout the plane being deployed to douse a fire in Alberta at the time.

Plane retired in 2013

The province ended its contract with theCoulsonGroup in 2013 to use the air tanker, opting to move to smaller aircraft more suitable to B.C.'s mountainousterrain, although it wasusedfor one month in 2015to fight wildfires in B.C.

The massive air tanker was built as a transport plane for the U.S. Navy in 1946and is the largest fixed-wing water bomber in the world, with a capacity of more than 27,000 litres.

But due to its size, the Martin Mars can only land on and scoop up water from about 113 water bodies in B.C., as opposed to the 1,700 water bodies that other smaller amphibious scoopers can access.

It also can't drop flame retardant, and fire crews often have to stop work on fires because of thelarge drop pattern, according to theForest Ministry's website.

"We appreciate the offer of assistance from Martin Mars but because their aircraft need to draw water from a large lake, they are not appropriate for fighting this fire right now," said John Archer with the Office of the Premier of Alberta.

"Martin Mars has provided assistance in the past when it was possible to draw water from Gregoire Lake, which is not possible now."