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The U.S. Department of Defense on Friday began sending real-time satellite and sensor data to Canadian authorities, technology it says will help identify new fires more quickly as the country experiences one of the first most destructive fire seasons.
The United States sent more than 600 firefighters to Canada to help fight the fires. President Joe Biden, who has linked wildfires to climate change, said US officials were monitoring air quality and flight delays.
Starting today, DOD personnel will analyze and share real-time data from U.S. satellites and sensors and transmit it through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center and Canada’s Interagency Forest Fire Center,” U.S. National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a report.
He said the Biden administration was also deploying additional wildfire-fighting personnel and equipment to Canada.
Canada had its most destructive start to the fire season yet, with some 4.8 million hectares (48,000 square kilometres) scorched, an area larger than the Netherlands.
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