Iran ready to send rescue aid to US amid California fires: IRCS head

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has expressed its readiness to send humanitarian aid to the United States as devastating fires spread across Southern California.

In a Saturday message to Cliff Holtz, the president and chief executive officer of the American Red Cross, the IRCS head Pirhossein Kolivand expressed sympathy with the families of the victims of the wildfire.

"Drawing on our extensive experience in addressing natural and humanitarian disasters, we, in the Iranian Red Crescent Society, are ready to swiftly dispatch our specialized rapid reaction teams, rescue equipment, and committed and trained personnel to the [affected] areas," he said.

He added that the large-scale wildfires have devastated vast areas of the United States, "destroyed many homes and lives, jeopardized thousands of innocent people's lives, and turned the country's beautiful nature into ashes".

He emphasized that California fires not only constituted a national crisis but also a "wound on the human conscience” that inflicted pain on all responsible and compassionate people around the world.

He noted that the heart-wrenching scenes of people struggling to breathe under a sky filled with smoke and fire highlight the need to take action.

"On behalf of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, I assure you that you are not alone in these difficult moments," Kolivand said.

He added that the recent wildfires in the United States have shown that controlling the crisis exceeds local capabilities and requires global assistance to extinguish the flames.

The rapid spread of fire through nature poses not only a threat to human lives but also the future of the planet and the environment, he noted.

The IRCS head reiterated the society’s commitment to the principles of humanitarianism and high Islamic and human values, which have promoted it to “rush to assist you in this crisis regardless of borders, cultures, and languages.”

“We believe that only through global cooperation and solidarity can we effectively alleviate the depth of this crisis.”

"We are awaiting your response to ensure necessary coordination," Kolivand pointed out.

Officials say the death toll from the infernos in the Los Angeles area has risen to eleven. Approximately 153,000 residents have also been ordered to evacuate as the fires continue to rage.

Reports indicate that over 12,300 buildings have been destroyed, and authorities fear that both the death toll and property damage will continue to climb.

Meanwhile, a nighttime curfew has been established in regions affected by the catastrophic blazes with the Los Angeles County Sheriff making it clear that breaching the curfew will result in misdemeanor charges.

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