Quebec sending more water bombers to California after aircraft struck by civilian drone [Video]

Quebec said Friday it will send two more firefighting aircraft to California, a day after one of the province’s water bombers collided with a drone while battling the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.

“At the request of U.S. authorities, we will be sending two additional water bombers and their crews as early as Jan. 15,” Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel said on the X platform. “In total, Quebec will provide California with four water bombers.”

“During the terrible wildfire season of 2023, we were able to count on the help of our allies around the world. It’s important to do the same for our neighbours to the south,” Bonnardel added.

The extra planes will arrive after a drone strike that grounded one of the two Quebec planes that have been assisting in California’s wildfire fight this week. The two Canadian-made CL-415 planes and their crews are sent to California every fall as part of …