2 Super Scooper aircraft land in LA County ahead of wildfire season

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11 / AP) - Two giant water-dropping Super Scooper aircraft have landed in Los Angeles as county firefighters gear up for wildfire season.

News media outlets report the water tankers from Quebec, Canada arrived about three weeks earlier than usual.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department have leased the aircraft from Canada for the last two decades around this time of year, when strong Santa Ana winds are common and can cause the most devastating wildfires.

The scoopers will be based at Van Nuys Airport and be operational starting Monday.

They will be in Los Angeles for at least three months before being sent back to Quebec, though fire officials say it's possible the leases could be extended.

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