Canadians join the fight against Los Angeles-area wildfires
Aircraft from B.C., Quebec helping out as 1,000 structures destroyed, at least 2 people killed
Firefighting aircraft provided by the Quebec government and a B.C.-based company are helping to battle the massive wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area.
They include a pair of Canadian-made water-bombing planes out of Quebec, as well as Coulson Aviation helicopters that the company says are "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.
Thousands of firefighters are tackling multiple blazes that have killed at least two people and destroyed more than 1,000 structures across the Los Angeles area as of Wednesday morning, according to Los Angeles County's fire chief.
Images from the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood showed firefighters in front of large homes that were engulfed in flames, while residents escaped through fire, ferocious winds and clouds of smoke. At least 70,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, officials said Wednesday.
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."
No official requests for support from Canada: officials
B.C. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said the province is standing by to assist California with the fires but has yet to receive a request.
"British Columbia knows all too well the devastating impacts of wildfires," he said in a statement emailed to CBC News.
"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."
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.
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."
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