The U.S. Department of Defense began sending real-time data via satellites and sensors to Canadian authorities on Friday, a technology it stated would help identify new fires more quickly as Canada faces one of the most devastating wildfire seasons. The United States has sent over 600 firefighters to Canada to aid in combating the blazes. U.S. President Joe Biden, who linked wildfires to climate change, mentioned that American officials are monitoring air quality and flight delays.
Adam Hodge, spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, noted in a statement that "starting today, Department of Defense personnel will analyze and share data derived from satellites and sensors, transmitting it through a cooperation agreement between the interagency National Fire Center and the Canadian Interagency Wildfire Center."
Canada is experiencing a severe wildfire season, with fires consuming approximately 4.8 million hectares (48,000 square kilometers), an area larger than the Netherlands in Western Europe. Wildfires occur every summer, but the current scale is unprecedented.
