The Canadian agency that co-ordinates cross-border wildfire response with the United States says itB次元官网网址檚 working to send a pair of airtankers to Southern California.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, headquartered in Winnipeg, said Thursday that it got a request overnight for a pair of CL-415 Skimmer Airtankers to join the fight against the fires.

The request came from the U.S. National Interagency Fire Centre based in Idaho, it said.

B次元官网网址淭he request is being actioned but the delivery timeline is currently unavailable,B次元官网网址� the agency said in an email to The Canadian Press. B次元官网网址淲e are also proactively working to identify potential resource availability, should more requests come in.B次元官网网址�

Alberta was preparing to send water bombers, night-vision helicopters and incident command team support.

Premier Danielle Smith said on social media that the province was working with the agency and the federal government to assess CaliforniaB次元官网网址檚 needs.

B次元官网网址淕ood neighbours are always there for each other in times of need, and we will assist our American friends in any way they need during this crisis,B次元官网网址� Smith said.

Smith has been on a recent charm offensive with American media outlets and elected officials, emphasizing the strong ties between Canada and the United States.

She has been careful not to denounce president-elect Donald TrumpB次元官网网址檚 threat of tariffs on Canadian imports or a declaration that he intends to annex Canada through B次元官网网址渆conomic force.B次元官网网址�

Other provinces have also offered help to battle the fires ravaging parts of Los Angeles.

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

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

Five people have died, 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.