REGINA - The province of Saskatchewan has offered its help to battle the fires raging in southern California.
But whether those firefighting resources will actually be deployed in the Los Angeles area remains to be seen. According to the province’s news release Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has offered a Birddog plane, 3000 feet of hose and ten firefighters to help fight the wildfires in L.A., through a request for assistance from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
“We were contacted by CIFFC (Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre), the national organization that puts out requests for things like this,” said Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod at a news conference Tuesday.
On their offer of a plane, hose, and firefighters, “we don't know yet if that offer is accepted,” McLeod said. “Those resources aren't deployed, but they've certainly been offered.”
So far, other provinces including Quebec and BC have sent their aircraft and fire crews down to California as part of Canada's response.
Premier Scott Moe said that what Saskatchewan is doing with respect to California is work with the federal government in allocating resources.
“Some of our resources fit the work that we're doing down there, and some maybe isn't as strong a fit. But my understanding is that recently, today or yesterday, there's a team, some supplies, and one aircraft that will be made available,” Moe told reporters Tuesday.
Right now the province is waiting to see if their firefighting offer is accepted.
“Certainly, if the need is there, we want to make sure that we're being a good neighbour and offering the services that they require that align with what we can provide,” McLeod said.
“But at this point in time, we've made an offer, and we'll see, evaluating based on their need, whether that's accepted. And if they need more, we can certainly look at that.”
