WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday to offer additional support for firefighters who continue to battle wildfires in many parts of the country.
The White House issued a statement on Thursday, saying Biden directed his team to deploy all available federal firefighting assets to suppress fires impacting Canadian and American communities.
Several major cities across the United States and Canada, including New York, Toronto and Montreal, have been plagued by large plumes of wildfire smoke, significantly reducing visibility and air quality.
“I have directed the National Interagency Fire Center to respond promptly to Canadian requests for additional firefighters and fire suppression assets such as air tankers,” said Biden.
In a follow-up statement, Trudeau thanked Biden for the additional support and said both leaders need to remain in close and regular contact, saying the large number of fires is due to climate change.
“These fires are affecting everyday routines, lives and livelihoods, and our air quality,” he said on Twitter.
“We’ll keep working – here at home and with partners around the world – to tackle climate change and address its impacts.”
More than 600 American firefighters and support personnel have been deployed to respond to the fires.