New Brunswick firefighters ready to head to LA to help fight deadly wildfires

Twenty-two New Brunswick firefighters have offered to help combat the fires in Los Angeles.

Firefighters from New Brunswick are ready to head to California to help fight the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre put out a national call Friday saying assistance was needed.

In response, 23 New Brunswick firefighters completed their mandatory fitness test and were ready to deploy two days later.

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“We were asked, our team responded, and they are poised to go as soon as we receive the call,” said Natural Resources Minister John Herron. “When neighbours are in trouble, you help. I am impressed with everyone’s willingness to step up and how quickly this all came together over the weekend.”

New Brunswick businesses are also finding ways to help, offering transportation for the firefighters.

“Being ready to respond to wildfires is an important part of what we do,” said Jim Irving, co-CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited, which is prepared to contribute two planes to the effort. “And being a good neighbour is top of the list. We’re always happy to do what we can to help in times of crisis.”

Cooke Aquaculture and Ocean Capital have also offered to transport the firefighters to the United States.

“We have witnessed the tragedy caused by the fires in the Los Angeles area,” said John Irving, president of Ocean Capital. “When called upon, we promptly agreed to help fight the fires. It is our duty to support our neighbours during this challenging time and our thoughts are with everyone affected.”

New Brunswick’s wildfire management branch often works with its Atlantic region partners to determine the response when the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre calls.

“New Brunswick has highly trained and experienced wildland firefighters and overhead personnel, and we are ready to deploy quickly as part of an Atlantic contingent,” said branch director Troy Adams.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre is a not-for-profit corporation owned and operated by the federal, provincial and territorial wildland fire management agencies to co-ordinate mutual aid and the sharing of resources and information.

Since the beginning of the year, more than a dozen wildfires have broken out in Southern California, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area. The region has seen almost no rain in more than eight months.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at least two dozen people remain missing and expects the death toll to rise.

To date, the fires have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

With files from The Associated Press.

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