Los Angeles Firefighters Are Getting an Assist From Canada's Water-Bombing Planes
For 30 years, the aircraft have been part of California's fire defenses. In a warming world, these types of cross-border deals will become more important.
A plane drops water on the Palisades fire over Los Angeles County, California, on Jan. 7.
Photographer: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesFirefighters battling flames ripping across the Southern California landscape have had help from the air. Amid the assault to quell the blazes, one aircraft has stood out in particular: Canada’s iconic yellow firefighting planes scooping up water from the Pacific to douse fires.
The aircraft — commonly called a Canadair after its original manufacturer — are on loan to Los Angeles County from Quebec. They are part of a long-standing agreement between the two governments to provide mutual aid to combat wildfires. As global warming makes conflagrations more frequent and intense around the world, acts of climate diplomacy are becoming increasingly important.