In a recent Facebook post, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed pride in announcing that a 40-person crew of Alberta’s highly trained Type 1 wildland firefighters had been deployed to southern California. The crew, sent on January 13, is part of a coordinated Canadian effort to assist the United States in battling catastrophic wildfires in the region.
"Just got word that Alberta wildfire firefighters have arrived in the Los Angeles area, working to help our American neighbours battle the flames. Incredibly proud of these hardworking crews—stay safe, and we look forward to welcoming you home soon!" Smith wrote, underscoring Alberta’s solidarity and readiness to assist in the face of these ongoing challenges.
The crew, which includes support staff, water bombers, and night-vision helicopters, has been mobilized to assist the U.S. and will continue to stand by to help further if required. This is part of a broader effort coordinated by Canadian provinces, with British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan also offering support.
British Columbia has deployed senior technical staff to fill specialized incident command roles, while Quebec has sent additional water bombers and 60 Type 1 wildland firefighters to assist with suppression efforts. Ontario is preparing two water bombers and a team of wildland firefighters, and Saskatchewan is offering additional resources in the form of fire crews and equipment.
Canada’s support for California is managed through various federal and provincial agencies, working together to deliver timely aid. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) remains on standby, ready to deploy air transport capabilities for firefighting personnel and equipment, while the Canadian Coast Guard continues to assist. Parks Canada and Transport Canada are also prepared to deploy resources, including firefighting personnel and aerial surveillance aircraft.
Minister Harjit S. Sajjan reinforced the commitment of Canadian agencies to respond to the wildfire crisis. “Team Canada is actively mobilizing all available resources to assist our neighbours in their time of need,” he said, underscoring the collaboration between Canadian and U.S. agencies to mitigate the disaster.
The support Canada provides California builds on the longstanding relationship between the two nations in times of natural disasters.
Last year, the U.S. played a key role in assisting Canada during its wildfire season. Alberta’s current deployment follows this reciprocal spirit, as Canadian resources work alongside the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies to coordinate the firefighting efforts.
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