For almost a week now, fires in Los Angeles, caused by out-of-control wildfires, have been ravaging the California city and all eyes are on efforts to bring the flames under control. While hundreds of firefighters are on the front line, Canadian aid particularly stands out, notably thanks to the work of Quebec air tankers, already on site to lend a hand and widely praised on social networks.
Also read: Fires in Los Angeles: A SOPFEU plane struck and damaged by a drone (PHOTOS)
As soon as the conflagration broke out, Canada and Quebec offered their help and resources to the United States to fight these forest fires. In fact, two CL-415 type aircraft were already on American soil since the end of last August under a contractual agreement that has linked the County of Los Angeles and the government of Quebec for more than 30 years.
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These air tankers and their crews quickly went into action and were seen flying over the affected areas. On social networks, there are numerous videos showing these pilots at work and many applaud their efficiency and their prowess.
@natehyung When there’s a tragedy or disaster, that’s when you can see real life heroes step into action. Not movie heroes, not celebrities, not politicians… real life every day heroes. Thank you for your service! #quebecwaterbombers #palisade #lafire #palisadefire #waterbomber #ghostrider #goose #maverick
“When tragedy or disaster strikes, that’s when we see real-life heroes spring into action. Not movie heroes, not celebrities, not politicians… real everyday heroes. Thank you for your dedication! », Wrote this Internet user under his video shared on TikTok on January 10, 2025. It has also been viewed more than 1.1 million times at the time of publishing these lines. TikToker Nate Hyung thanks Canada, specifying that he observed the air tankers filling their tanks tirelessly.
-Indeed, piloting these devices requires impressive manual labor. The commanders not only have to fly over the water to fill the tanks with approximately 6,000 liters of water in twelve seconds, but they then head low, through smoke and brush, to release their load and try to contain the flames.
In another video, viewed nearly two million times, content creator Dash Dobrofsky highlights the involvement of Quebec planes in the current fight against fires. According to him, this intervention takes on particular resonance in the context where Donald Trump, during a press conference, affirmed that the United States did not need anything from Canada to justify its threats to impose customs tariffs .
“While Canada was helping California put out the fires, Donald Trump, instead of helping California, was attacking Canada, which is clearly doing more to help Los Angeles than our president-elect. […] So, on behalf of all of Los Angeles, I just want to say: Thank you, Canada. »
Moreover, the governments of Quebec and Canada announced that additional resources to support California would be sent.
Two other air tankers, including two pilots, two co-pilots and technicians, will be deployed and will take off this week for Los Angeles. “Departure is scheduled for January 15, but it is dependent on weather conditions,” specifies SOPFEU.
Sixty firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia will be deployed this Monday, January 13. Quebec is also ready to “provide additional water bomber planes and make sixty Type 1 firefighters available,” according to Public Safety and Civil Protection Canada.
