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Recent wildfires have severely impacted several neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California. The fires, fueled by strong winds and drought conditions, have spread rapidly, affecting thousands of residents. According to ABC News, the fires have resulted in approximately 24 fatalities. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for 88,000 residents, with an additional 85,000 under evacuation warnings. The affected area spans over 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County.
Firefighters from various regions are working tirelessly to control the damage. Aerial firefighting aircraft have been deployed extensively to assist the Los Angeles Fire Department. Among these aircraft are Bombardier CL-415 SuperScoopers sent from Canada. Originally built by Canadair and later produced as De Havilland Canadair 515 after a series of acquisitions, these amphibious planes can scoop up to 1,620 gallons of water from nearby sources to fight fires.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is another aircraft used in firefighting efforts. This military cargo transport has been adapted with the Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) to serve as an air tanker during emergencies. Various military branches and agencies operate this versatile aircraft.
