Saskatchewan offers to send a crew and equipment to help battle California wildfires

The death toll in the L-A County wildfires continues to rise as crews try to make gains battling the flames, ahead of dangerous winds returning this week.

Saskatchewan is joining the effort to contain the out-of-control wildfires in southern California.

Answering a request for help from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre on Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has offered to send a crew and equipment to battle wildfires that have scorched thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in California,” Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said in a news release.

Much of southern California was under an elevated fire risk on Tuesday, affecting more than 20 million people from San Diego to far north of Los Angeles. The U.S. National Weather Service issued a rare warning, as strong winds coupled with dry conditions could cause any new fire to explode in size.

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The Associated Press reported planes were dousing homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals on Tuesday, while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush. Dozens of additional water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted.

“In Saskatchewan, we know firsthand how devastating a fire can be, and offering our experienced members and equipment is exactly what being a good neighbour is all about,” said McLeod.

The SPSA’s offer includes a Birddog aircraft, 3,000 lengths of 100-foot hoses and 10 firefighters.

According to the public safety agency, they’re just waiting for direction from the national forest fire centre on how to deploy them.

-With Associated Press files