The provincial government is putting an $80-million down payment on three new water bombers it plans to have by the 2031 and 2032 fire seasons. The new Calgary-made De Havilland Canadair 515 Firefighter water bombers will have upgraded navigation systems, increased tank capacity and more fuel-efficient engines, Premier Wab Kinew said on Friday. The first water bomber is expected to join the fleet for the 2031 fire season, with the other two expected to be added in 2032, he said. The $80 million is a down payment and the full cost is still being negotiated, Kinew said. …The new bombers were promised within a decade in the provincial budget released last month. The new water bombers will help fight fires not only in Manitoba, but in neighbouring provinces and territories and even south of Canada’s border, Kinew said.