Daher Promotes Kodiak, TBM for Wildfire Work

Daher highlighted its Kodiak and TBM aircraft for wildfire response at a firefighting conference, citing deployments across U.S. and Canadian fire lines.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Emergency Response

Single white turboprop utility aircraft on a gravel airstrip with pine-covered ridge and thin wildfire smoke column in the distance under clear afternoon light. — Daher promoted its Kodiak and TBM aircraft for wildfire response at a firefighting conference, citing deployments across U.S. and Canadian fire lines. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Daher promoted its Kodiak and TBM aircraft for wildfire firefighting operations at a firefighting conference. The company said both platforms have flown wildfire response missions in the United States and Canada.

Why it matters

The promotion highlights how aerial platforms are being adapted for command, communications, and firefighting roles in U.S. wildfire response. Agencies and contractors are integrating new communications systems into existing fleets to support these missions.

Bridger Aerospace acquired four Kodiak 100s, while the Washington State Department of Natural Resources operates two for firefighting and the Conair Group converted two TBM 960s into command-and-control platforms. The source does not provide flight hours, mission counts, or effectiveness data for these aircraft.

The players

Daher

Daher is the aerospace manufacturer that builds the Kodiak and TBM aircraft and promoted them for wildfire response.

Bridger Aerospace

Bridger Aerospace is an aerial firefighting company that acquired a fleet of four Kodiak 100 aircraft.

Conair Group

The Conair Group is an aerial firefighting contractor that converted two TBM 960s into airborne command-and-control platforms.

The details

A Kodiak 100 Series III was integrated with a Canyon AeroConnect digital communications system at Daher's Sandpoint, Idaho facility and delivered to the U.S. Forest Service fleet. Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation received a Kodiak 900 with an expanded radio configuration and Air Tactical Group Supervisor capability.

• October 30, 2026: Daher's promotion of Kodiak and TBM wildfire aircraft was published.

Seasonal Patterns

As the Kodiak 100 Series III and TBM platforms expand into command-and-control and communications roles across U.S. Forest Service and state fleets, they extend a shift from single-purpose air tankers toward multi-role wildfire aircraft. The source does not compare current deployments to historical fire-season averages.

Residents in wildfire-prone areas should follow official evacuation orders and monitor local fire agency updates. The source does not specify public safety instructions tied to these aircraft deployments.

The takeaway

Aircraft platforms are being adapted for communications and command roles alongside firefighting, which may change how agencies coordinate wildfire response. Readers tracking emergency response capacity can watch how these integrations are adopted across state and federal fleets.