Canadians join the fight against Los Angeles-area wildfires
Political leaders say resources, military are standing by as thousands flee
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says Canadian military personnel, their equipment and several hundred firefighters stand "ready to support our American neighbours" as wildfires devastate parts of Southern California.
Harjit Sajjan said in a social media post that "Team Canada, with Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta, is ready to deploy 250 firefighters, aircraft equipment, and other resources as early as" Thursday night.
Firefighters are currently battling four separate blazes stretching from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. At least five people have been killed, and 130,000 people are under evacuation orders.
Sajjan's pledge comes as the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said Thursday that the U.S. National Interagency Fire Centre asked for two of its CL-415 Skimmer Airtankers to join the fight against the fires.
"The request is being actioned but the delivery timeline is currently unavailable," the agency said in an email to The Canadian Press. "We are also proactively working to identify potential resource availability, should more requests come in.
"The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre extends its deepest condolences to all those affected by the ongoing wildfire situation in California. Canadians remain ready and eager to assist as requested."
Some resources already being shared
The pledge to help echoes statements already made by provincial leaders, including those in B.C., Quebec and Alberta, with some resources from those provinces already on the ground.
They include a pair of Canadian-made water-bombing planes out of Quebec, while B.C.-based Coulson Aviation helicopters are also "on the frontline" of the fight.
Coulson said in a social media post that its crews are "braving high winds and challenging conditions" in the fight against the Palisades fires.
Coulson's social media post included a screenshot showing the flight paths of three of its water-bombing helicopters swirling repeatedly over the neighbourhood.
The company, which is based in Port Alberni, B.C., but also operates in the U.S. and Australia, says its aircraft in the firefight include its double-rotor Chinook and the smaller Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, contracted with local utility Southern California Edison.
That means Coulson's aircraft directly serves Los Angeles and Orange and Ventura counties and were among the first on the scene of the wildfires.
CEO Wayne Coulson told CBC News that his crews were dispatched to several fires across the L.A. area and would support ground crews as necessary.
"Unfortunately, in this particular fire, the wind was so violent, and the fire got started right away. It had about a three- to four-hour headstart before any aircraft could get on it," he told Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC's On The Coast.
"It's in the urban interface, and it's taking out hundreds and hundreds of homes," Coulson told The Canadian Press. "And a lot of those homes, of course, are very, very expensive.
"As soon as the wind dies down, we will get control of it relatively quickly. But it's just how much damage is done in the meantime."
Provincial leaders pledge support
B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said the province is standing by to assist California with the fires.
"British Columbia knows all too well the devastating impacts of wildfires," he said in a statement emailed to CBC News on Wednesday.
"My thoughts are with the people of Los Angeles as they face this extremely challenging situation ... and B.C. will provide support in any way we can in the days ahead."
B.C. Premier David Eby echoed that pledge in a social media post Thursday, as did Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta, who said her province is prepared to help and that water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command teams could be sent to California to support efforts.
"Good neighbours are always there for each other in times of need, and we will assist our American friends in any way they need during this crisis," Smith said Thursday.
A spokesperson for Quebec's Transport Department said the two Quebec government planes have been actively involved in fighting the fires since Tuesday.
The Canadian-made CL-415 firefighting planes are sent to California each fall as part of an annual contract that has existed since 1994, the department says on its website. It says the contract normally begins in September and lasts for between 90 and 180 days.
Pascal Duclos, head pilot for the Quebec government's aerial service, said he spent several hours in the air on Tuesday, dumping dozens of loads of water over fire-devastated areas from his plane.
"What I saw was houses that were in flames, cars that were in flames, people watering their roofs, who were trying to save the building, a lot of people on the ground, firefighters trying to get down a path to get to the source of the fire," he said Wednesday.
Stéphane Caron of Quebec's forest fire protection agency, SOPFEU, said the planes are dispatched with their own pilots, co-pilots and technicians.
Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel posted a message of support on X to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the province is ready to send additional firefighters to the state if they are needed.
"California is currently living through difficult times due to wildfires," Bonnardel wrote. "The governor … can count on the government of Quebec and on SOPFEU to support him, if necessary, in this fight."
Canadian residents in L.A.
Canadians including Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida and his family were among the more than 70,000 people forced to flee their homes.
"We've evacuated currently and our canyon is on fire," Maida told The Canadian Press.
Actor Eugene Levy, another prominent Canadian in L.A., told the Los Angeles Times that he faced gridlocked traffic as he attempted to vacate the area amid "black and intense" smoke.
Maggie Langrick, a former Vancouver resident now in Los Angeles, spoke to CBC News Wednesday night as she was preparing to leave her home near the Hollywood sign.
"I've been smelling smoke all day," she said, describing the hiking trails and wilderness near her home. "There's a giant tinderbox just up the hill from here."
Dayn Nanda, a Toronto-born talent booker living in West Hollywood, described the view from his apartment as "apocalyptic."
"Even just looking out of my window, the sky is full of black clouds and there's a noticeable difference in air quality," he said. "The winds are crazy. Things are falling over and breaking on my balcony."
Nanda said he moved to the city three years ago and knew wildfires were something to expect, but didn't imagine he'd ever experience anything of this magnitude. While he wasn't personally affected by the blaze, he said several colleagues have lost homes.
The 30-year-old said he posted on social media to offer his spare bedroom to anyone displaced by the fire.
The disaster prompted the NHL to postpone a home game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
The Kings said in a statement that the team appreciates the hard-working first responders who are trying to contain the fires and protect the community.
"We appreciate the league's support in keeping our fans, staff and players safe," the statement said.
With files from CBC News and On The Coast