With wildfires raging throughout BC, the province is trying to make a deal with the owner of the Martin Mars water bombers.
Minister of Forests Steve Thomson says the province wants to work out a deal on an as-needed basis.
The water bombers aided the Wildfire Management Branch for 53 years before parting ways in 2013.
The province said maintenance costs were too high, and the number of lakes where the planes could refill were limited.
In 2013, it cost $4000 an hour for the first 45 hours of use per plane.
The bombers were used 20 times between 2007 and 2013.
Some residents think saving homes and forests is worth the price tag, while others think helicopters are just as effective.
A petition to bring the planes back on Change.org already has over 11,000 signatures.
A similar movement to bring back the planes failed last year.
The owner of the two remaining water bombers, Wayne Coulson, has a contract for one plane to help Chinese pilots learn to fly similar aircrafts.
He is currently in negotiations to move the second bomber to Florida.