Pentagon to share information from satellites with Canada to fight fires

Washington, June 16 (EFE).- The United States Defense Department will share satellite information with Canada to help fight fires that have ravaged the forests of the North American country for weeks.

The White House said in a statement that Pentagon staff will analyze and share “real-time data” on the fires using US satellites and sensors.

“This technology can give early warning of emerging fires in remote areas so that fires can be stopped before they spread and burn out of control,” a government spokesman said.

Washington will send more material and agents to Canada to fight fires, such as tanker planes and paratrooper firefighters.

The cooperation aims to “do everything possible to reduce the degradation of air quality in US communities caused by smoke from the fires burning in Canada,” the government said.

Last week, American cities such as New York or Washington suffered a thick haze of smoke particles that forced the closure of public schools and led authorities to recommend citizens not to leave their homes.

According to the figures released Thursday by Canadian authorities, there are currently 470 active fires in the country, despite rains and the drop in temperatures having improved weather conditions in recent days.

In Quebec, authorities have said the rain that will fall in the province through at least Saturday will help control the flames but will not be enough to extinguish any of the 126 active fires.

Meanwhile, in the west of the country, in the province of British Columbia, the Donnie Creek fire, the second largest in the history of the region, has already consumed 4,660 sq km of forest since May 12.

So far this year, the flames have destroyed more than 4.8 million hectares of forest, an area equal to that of Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra and Malta combined. EFE

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