Alberta to send water bombers, helicopters to help fight L.A. wildfire

EDMONTON — Alberta is preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support to help battle wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles.

Premier Danielle Smith says on X that neighbours are always there for each other in times of need and the province will assist its American friends in this crisis.

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Water-bombing pilots and crews from Quebec and a British Columbia company are already fighting the wind-whipped flames in the Southern California city.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, meanwhile, said in a statement that it has not received any requests for assistance from California.

For those wondering my home survived the horror of the LA fires. Miracle. Truly.
Four homes right beside are all burnt to the ground. I can’t even. My new roof buffeted the embers … my gardener and kids spraying my house with water. Then helping all they could. 😞

— Kim Coates (@KimFCoates) January 9, 2025

Officials have said hurricane-force winds began igniting one neighbourhood after another on Wednesday in the coastal neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades and in Altadena, near Pasadena.

Five people have died in the fires, more than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes and famous landmarks have come under threat.

Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed and the number is expected to increase.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2025.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Lara Fominoff