Local firefighters stand ready to help if Los Angeles calls

First responders, officials and residents in Los Angeles, Calif. are on edge as weather forecasts warn of increasing winds that could reinvigorate wildfires.

Canadian water bombers have been attacking the fires for the better part of week, local fire departments say they have yet to receive a request for assistance.

“While our Cambridge Firefighters are always ready to help those in need, there has been no request made to the Fire Chief at this time. Our thoughts are with those who have been displaced, as well as all the first responders working tirelessly to contain the fire and ensure public safety,” The Cambridge Fire Department said in a statement to 570 NewsRadio.

The Kitchener fire department issued a similar statement: “Early last week, many Urban Fire Departments in the Province including Kitchener Fire Department, at the request of the Ontario Fire Marshal were proactively organizing a response to assist with structural firefighting in California. To date, there has been no official request from the United States for firefighting support.”

The National Weather Service issued a warning for Tuesday that dry winds combined with severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” and that new fires could explode in size.

So far, 24 people have died and at least two dozen people have been reported missing.

About 88,000 people remain under an evacuation order as of Tuesday and another 84,800 have been warned they may also be evacuated in the coming days.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said more than 12,000 homes and structures have been destroyed.

It’s believe this will be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history with predictions that the total cost of damage and economic loss could top $250 billion.