The Canadian agency that co-ordinates cross-border wildfire response with the United States says it91Ƶs working to send a pair of airtankers to Southern California.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, headquartered in Winnipeg, said Thursday that it got a request overnight for a pair of CL-415 Skimmer Airtankers to join the fight against the fires.
The request came from the U.S. National Interagency Fire Centre based in Idaho, it said.
91ƵThe request is being actioned but the delivery timeline is currently unavailable,91Ƶ the agency said in an email to The Canadian Press. 91ƵWe are also proactively working to identify potential resource availability, should more requests come in.91Ƶ
Alberta was preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support.
Premier Danielle Smith said on social media that the province was working with the agency and the federal government to assess California91Ƶs needs.
91ƵGood neighbours are always there for each other in times of need, and we will assist our American friends in any way they need during this crisis,91Ƶ Smith said.
Smith has been on a recent charm offensive with American media outlets and elected officials, emphasizing the strong ties between Canada and the United States.
She has been careful not to denounce president-elect Donald Trump91Ƶs threat of tariffs on Canadian imports or a declaration that he intends to annex Canada through 91Ƶeconomic force.91Ƶ
Other provinces have also offered help to battle the fires ravaging parts of Los Angeles.
Water-bombing pilots and crews from Quebec and a British Columbia company are already fighting the wind-whipped flames.
Officials have said hurricane-force winds began igniting one neighbourhood after another on Wednesday in the coastal area of Pacific Palisades and in Altadena, near Pasadena.
Five people have died, more than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes and famous landmarks have come under threat.
Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed and the number is expected to increase.