THE Wildfires in British Columbia Service is deploying a leadership team to help fight the Los Angeles wildfires, at the request of the California Fire Department.
Prime Minister David Eby confirmed the deployment in a social media post on Friday, adding that the team would “depart imminently”.
“We are also working to send ground teams as part of a national response,” Eby said.
“California has been there for us, we will be there for them. That’s what good neighbors do.
British Columbia Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar said Cal Fire has contacted British Columbia directly to request high-level expertise.
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The leadership team of approximately 12 people will include technical staff specializing in advanced planning, logistics, operations, aviation, fire weather, information and other critical roles.
Earlier Friday, federal Defense Minister Bill Blair said Canada would deploy Royal Canadian Air Force assets to help in the fight against the shootings.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan also said Ontario, Quebec and Alberta would deploy 250 firefighters, aviation equipment and other resources to California.
Planes from British Columbia and Quebec are already helping American crews. One of Quebec’s water bombers was grounded Thursday after hitting a drone flying illegally in the fire zone.
Firefighters have been battling violent fires for several days, which have left 10 dead.
It is estimated that at least 10,000 homes burned, while more than 153,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
The costs of the disaster are estimated at $50 billion.
With files from Sean Prevail and Uday Rana
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