Canadian C130 Picks Up 92 Stranded Quebecers Threatened By Forest Fire

Some might consider the Lockheed-Martin C130 Hercules something of an ugly duckling. It's squat, utterly utilitarian in appearance. But for more than 90 people stranded by fire in northern Quebec Monday, the C130 dispatched to rescue them was probably the most beautiful aircraft they'd ever seen.

The aircraft, from CFB Trenton in Ontario, landed on a gravel strip Monday at Eastman River, on the east side of James Bay. It was the second attempt by CAF pilots to get an aircraft into the strip, after they were turned back overnight Sunday by dense smoke and poor weather.

"This is typical of the missions that the Air Force's CC-130 Hercules crews are asked to undertake on a daily basis," acting 1 Canadian Air Division commander Brig.-Gen. Dwight Davies said in a statement to the Canadian Press. "Hercules crews conduct a variety of tasks for Canadians from humanitarian operations, as in this case, through air-to-air refueling of fighters conducting the NORAD mission."

The evacuees were flown to a temporary shelter in Val D'Or, Quebec. There's no word yet on when they'll be able to return.

FMI: www.airforce.forces.gc.ca