Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority sent a team of five fire protection experts to California on Wednesday, in an effort to assist firefighters battling the wildfires still blazing in Los Angeles.
The delegation, which will remain in the United States for about a week, includes members who specialize in forest fire prevention, with experience gained from major blazes in Israel in past years.
Both Southern California and Israel share similar climates, with hot and dry summer seasons and only limited rain in the winter months. This, coupled with strong winds, contributes to the outbreak of wildfires.
Earlier this week, a volunteer Israeli search-and-rescue organization offered its assistance in dealing with the devastating wildfires raging in California. The unusual proposal by Zaka, which became known initially for its efforts to gather human remains following disasters, highlighted the group’s South African teams, which are practiced in responding to fires.
Separately, the Israeli NGO IsraAID said on Sunday that it was planning to send an emergency response team to support communities affected by the fires.
The death toll in the California fires, which were the most destructive in the state’s history, has thus far risen to 25.
