2 Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires [Video]

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ethan Swope

A pair of Quebec water bombers and their crews are in California helping fight the massive wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area.

Stéphane Caron of Quebec’s forest fire protection agency — SOPFEU — says the two planes are sent to the U.S. each fall as part of an annual contract, the length of which was extended this year because of the emergency.

He says each plane is dispatched from Quebec with its own crew composed of a pilot, co-pilot and technician.

Thousands of firefighters are battling at least four blazes that have killed at least two people and destroyed more than 1,000 structures across the Los Angeles area as of early this morning.

Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel posted a message …