Evacuations along B.C.’s Douglas Channel are still ongoing as a result of wildfires in the area, in a Canadian operation that underscores Canadian capabilities in disaster response, according to Public Safety Minister Harjit Sajjan.
Harjit Sajjan stated that there was “no hesitation” to provide assistance, with more than 60 Canadian frontline firefighters being dispatched to Los Angeles in recent days.
“Just a friendly reminder to everyone about what our neighbours should strive to do as a community,” he said on Tuesday.
Canadian support for Los Angeles demonstrates the strong connection between the two countries, Sajjan said, in spite of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s recent threat of tariffs and his suggestion that Canada would be better off as the 51st state.
He said that he views Canada’s support for Los Angeles as proof that Canada doesn’t want to engage in “grand-standing” or show off, since in other words, that’s what it might appear to be given what president Trump has said.
“There is no question about our territorial jurisdiction,” he said.
“This, I believe, is a reminder of our autonomy, but it’s also a reminder of how intertwined our connection is and how closely we collaborate,” Sajjan said.
Canadian personnel stationed in Los Angeles consist of 40 wildland firefighters from Alberta, a firefighting crew accompanied by a team of technical experts from British Columbia who specialize in logistics, aviation, and fire weather, and a waterbomber team from Quebec.
In addition to the Quebec government planes, helicopters based in B.C. owned by Coulson Aviation have also been deployed in the fight.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on social media that he spoke with Canada’s consul general in Los Angeles, and Canadian firefighters were “on the ground, working side by side with their American counterparts.”
“We’re proud to be assisting our American neighbours, and we’re thankful for the brave men and women emergency responders who work tirelessly in challenging circumstances to protect homes and keep people safe,” he said.
British Columbia’s Forests Minister Ravi Parmar shared on social media that a group of twelve specialists from the province’s wildfire response team flew into Los Angeles on a Saturday, while two dozen firefighters embarked on a two-day drive.
He said he met with the B.C. Wildfire Service team on Monday to talk about the effects of the California wildfires and how they’re helping to prepare B.C. for the 2025 fire season.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said more firefighters from the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, and Ontario are gearing up for possible deployment if additional help is needed.
“They’ve actually gotten out ahead, the Ontario government; they’ve got about 300 urban firefighters ready to roll if needed,” he said.
Alberta is providing more aircraft that have advanced night vision capabilities. That’s what we’re considering as part of the overall package.
A statement from Public Safety Canada on Tuesday noted that Ontario is getting ready to send two waterbombers to Abbotsford, British Columbia, with the possibility of deployment to California if requested.
Sajjan said Canadian officials want to make it clear to American authorities that if the situation deteriorates, “Canada has a specialized collection of resources ready to be implemented” to respond.
The wildfires near Los Angeles have resulted in at least 24 fatalities, levelled over 12,000 structures, and charred more than 160 square kilometres of land within a week.
Gusty winds expected to reach hurricane intensities in certain regions are complicating firefighters’ work.
Over 75,000 homes, mostly in Los Angeles County., were without power on Tuesday morning due to strong winds, as Southern California Edison had switched off electricity to certain areas perceived to be at high fire risk to prevent power lines from triggering new blazes.
This article by The Canadian Press was first published on January 14, 2025.
— With files from The Association Press of Canada
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