Uh huh.
Let's take a lookie at this cold war bomber, aka the "Candid."
Il-76 MDP: Firefighting conversion of Il-76 demonstrated first in 1990;
up to 44,000 kg (97,000 lb) of water/fire retardant in two cylindrical tanks in hold;
discharge, replenishment and draining systems;
drop zone aiming devices;
up to 384 meteorological cartridges in dispensers for weather modification;
able to water-bomb an area of 500 x 100 m (1,640 x 330 ft), or to carry, and parachute when required, 40 fully equipped firefighters;
all airborne fire equipment (known as VAP-2: dischargeable aviation system; weight 5,000 kg; Il,025 lb) can be installed in standard Il-76, or removed, in 4 hours;
tank replenishment time 10 to 15 minutes; discharge time 6 to 7 seconds, with option of successive discharge of tanks to cover 600 x 80 m (1,970 x 260 ft);
airspeed during discharge 130 to 215 knots (240 to 400 km/h; 150 to 248 mph) at 80 m (260 ft).
So far, so good. What about the runways needed for this a/c?
Well, it's max takeoff weight from an unprepared surface is MD from unprepared surface 157,500 kg (347,225 lb).
Takeoff run: MD, variant 1,700 m (5,580 ft)
Landing, MD variant 900-1,000 m (2,950-3,280 ft)
The promoter's web site is even less optimistic.
That's a bunch, more than the old Herc C-130b's.
By the way, due to three crashes of the Hercs, they were all grounded in 2002.
Any of you firebombers know what the surface condition and length of the Air Attack bases are?