Trending Topics

Ukraine offers to deploy 150 FFs to Calif. to ‘help Americans save lives’

A statement from the California National Guard said Ukraine’s offer of support to during the devastating wildfires is “nothing short of extraordinary”

LOS ANGELES — Amid devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, which have claimed dozens of lives, global support is pouring in. Mexican firefighters arrived over the weekend, Canadian crews are on their way and Eastern Europe has also offered aid.

“Today, I instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California,” said a message shared by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy on X. “The situation there is extremely difficult, and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives. This is currently being coordinated, and we have offered our assistance to the American side through the relevant channels. 150 of our firefighters are already prepared.”

Around 1,500 California National Guard members are in Los Angeles assisting with curfew enforcement. On Sunday, they responded to Zelenskyy’s offer on X, CBS News reported.

“Ukraine’s offer of support to California during these devastating wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary,” said a post on X. “President Zelenskyy’s leadership and the preparation of 150 Ukrainian firefighters are a testament to the power of global partnerships. @TheCalGuard is proud of our 30+ years of working with Ukraine through the State Partnership Program. Together, we stand stronger.”

Trending
While not always obvious, our commanders-in-chief and firefighting have intersected throughout history
A review of presidential milestone moments for the fire service – and how we can continue to advance the fire safety mission
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said there have been 1,000 rescues across the state since the storms began on Feb. 15
Officials have removed most of the 26 vehicles involved in the I-80 tunnel crash that killed at least three people and seriously injured five

Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.