Quebec sends two more water bombers to fight devastating L.A. wildfires

A SOPFEU CL-415 is taxiing for takeoff at Quebec City airport, Jan. 15, 2025. SOPFEU is sending two more airplanes to help California fight the fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Francis Vachon

MONTREAL — Quebec has deployed two more water bombers to California in the battle to contain wildfires that have devastated swaths of the Los Angeles area.

The two CL-415 aircraft sent today bring Quebec’s total California aid package to four water bombers, 12 pilots and six technicians.

Pascal Duclos, head pilot of the Quebec team dispatched to California, says the wildfire situation in the state is a tragedy, with 25 people killed so far and thousands of homes destroyed.

In a news conference today from the L.A. area, Duclos said dry conditions and strong winds risk sparking new fires, and he confirmed that one of the Quebec planes that was grounded last week after a collision with a drone is back in operation.

Luc Dugas, engineer with Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency, says the province stands ready to deploy 60 additional firefighters if requested by California officials.

Dugas says it’s important to be there for California because firefighters from that state helped in Quebec during the province’s record wildfire season in 2023.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press