Ukraine proposes sending firefighters to California to assist with wildfire disaster

(Dan Tri) - Ukraine has offered to send its firefighters to the US to assist with the wildfire disaster occurring in California.

The forest fire has so far killed 16 people (Photo: Reuters).

Ukraine is preparing for a possible scenario of sending rescue forces, including 150 firefighters, to the US state of California to tackle wildfires that have devastated the region in recent days, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on January 12.

Wildfires have ravaged the city of Los Angeles over the past week, killing at least 16 people, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents, and destroying or damaging more than 10,000 structures.

"Today, I have instructed the Ukrainian Interior Minister and our diplomats to prepare for the possibility of our rescue services participating in assisting in the fight against wildfires in California," Zelensky said in a speech on the evening of January 12.

"The situation there is extremely difficult, and the Ukrainian people can help the Americans save lives. This issue is being resolved, and through the appropriate channels we have offered assistance to the American side. We are ready with 150 firefighters," he said.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and a group of diplomats are looking into the situation, the ministry said.

Zelensky's offer of support came three days after Donald Trump Jr., son of US President-elect Donald Trump, made comments on social media blaming Ukraine for the wildfires in Los Angeles, according to Kyiv Indenpendent.

“Of course, the Los Angeles Fire Department donated a lot of their equipment to Ukraine,” Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter on January 8.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been sending surplus equipment to Ukraine since 2022, after Russia launched a special military operation in the neighboring country. The assistance includes boots, hoses, body armor and medicine.

The donation is unlikely to affect the fire department's response to the current crisis, which is being exacerbated by strong winds, manpower issues and water shortages.

Earlier, on January 10, President Zelensky expressed condolences to the American people over the wildfires in California during a conversation with US President Joe Biden.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ukraine-de-xuat-dua-linh-cuu-hoa-sang-california-ho-tro-tham-hoa-chay-rung-20250113074201874.htm