A viral video of a Canadian water bomber helping to put out wildfires in California is receiving praise from citizens.
Thursday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted a video of a Canadian aircraft flying in the Los Angeles area above the raging fires and spraying water on them in an effort to help slow the spread of the deadly blaze.
He captioned the post, “Neighbours helping neighbours.”
“Go Canada!” wrote one user under a TikTok that Now Toronto reposted of the footage.
“…Good to see Canada sending in tankers. This is really where the real friendship lies,” another user commented.
The relief comes amid heightened tensions between both countries, after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada did not make efforts to stop the flow of illegal activities into the U.S.
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As of Thursday afternoon, crews were able to knock down a big portion of the blaze that broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, according to the Associated Press.
However, major wind gusts still pose a danger on Thursday but the weather forecast could provide an opportunity for firefighters to make progress on combatting the blaze, which has spread from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. At least five people have been killed in the fires, but the death toll is set to rise as crews begin to search the rubble, local police said to reporters on Thursday.
Thousands of people have had to flee their homes, the Associated Press says, and the Palisades Fire along the coast burned thousands of structures, according to Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department Kristin Crowley. She added that this specific fire is “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.”
Trudeau posted on X Thursday afternoon that “Canada’s here to help,” and confirmed that the country is sending more water bombers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the wildfires as “devastating” on X, and assured that additional help from the province is on standby if needed.
“Ontario will always stand ready to serve,” Ford posted on the platform.
“I’ve directed officials to send every available water bomber to fight these fires. We’ll provide whatever personnel and equipment is needed and spare no expense to help our closest friends and allies.”
