Quebec announced Friday it would send two more firefighting planes to California, a day after one of the province’s water bombers collided with a drone while fighting the forest fires ravaging the Los Angeles area.
“At the request of the American authorities, we will send two additional water bombers… and their crews from January 15,” declared the Minister of Public Security of Quebec, François Bonnardel, on the X platform. “In total , Quebec will provide California with four water bombers.”
“During the terrible wildfire season of 2023, we were able to count on the help of our allies around the world. It is important to do the same for our neighbors to the south,” Bonnardel said.
The additional bombers will arrive following an incident that grounded one of two Quebec planes participating in the fight against forest fires in California. The two Canadian-made CL-415 planes – and their crews – are flown to California each fall under an annual contract that has been in place for more than 30 years.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said a CL-415 aircraft, known as the Quebec 1, was damaged after being struck by a civilian drone at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of the city, where dozens of blocks have been reduced to ruins, with only the outlines of houses and their chimneys remaining.
Get the latest national news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen.
“Quebec 1 suffered wing damage and remains grounded and out of service. No injuries were reported,” firefighters said on X.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it had opened an investigation into the collision. “It is a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to obstruct firefighting efforts on public lands,” the agency said on its website Thursday. A fine of up to US$75,000 may also be imposed.
The two Quebec water bombers had been helping since Tuesday to fight massive fires north of downtown Los Angeles, which have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures. In addition to the two CL-415 planes owned by the Quebec government, helicopters owned by British Columbia-based Coulson Aviation were also deployed in the fight.
Canadian Civil Protection Minister Harjit Sajjan said Thursday that Canada was ready to deploy 250 firefighters, planes and other resources.
– with files from The Associated Press
© 2025 The Canadian Press