In 2023, as wildfires raged across Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia, burning more than 45 million acres, over 2,000 American firefighters came to Canada’s aid. Now, the favor has been returned. Canada is sending air tankers and a team of experienced wildland firefighters to Los Angeles to help tackle the massive fires there. These air tankers can drop thousands of gallons of fire retardant or water to support crews on the ground.
The help doesn’t stop there. Officials say more personnel and equipment from Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta are ready to deploy, and British Columbia is sending a team of senior technical staff to fill specialized roles.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We both know that Canada and the United States are more than just neighbours. We’re friends — especially when times get tough. California’s always had our back when we battle wildfires up north. Now, Canada’s got yours.”
Not to be outdone, Mexico also joined the effort, sending a team of firefighters to California early Saturday. President Claudia Sheinbaum shared on X that the firefighters were bringing “the courage and heart of Mexico” with them. Before they left Mexico City, the team stood on the runway holding the flags of California, Mexico, and the United States — a powerful symbol of solidarity.
Mexico’s civil protection agency emphasized that “cooperation has no borders” and reaffirmed its support for California. California Governor Gavin Newsom thanked both countries for their swift and generous assistance.
