Alberta to send water bombers, helicopters to help fight Los Angeles wildfire

Alberta is preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support to help battle wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles.

Premier Danielle Smith says on X that neighbours are always there for each other in times of need and the province will assist its American friends in this crisis.

Water-bombing pilots and crews from Quebec and a British Columbia company are already fighting the wind-whipped flames in the Southern California city.

Officials have said hurricane-force winds began igniting one neighbourhood after another on Wednesday in the coastal neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades and in Altadena, near Pasadena.

Five people have died in the fires, more than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes and famous landmarks have come under threat.

Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed and the number is expected to increase.