|
The Interior and Agriculture departments announced they will use $20 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deploy advanced remote sensing technology in wildfire-prone areas to improve the speed and accuracy of detecting fires. The investment will allow the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and other agencies to use data from NOAA satellites to detect and report wildfires quickly.
“Wildland firefighting will always require highly skilled individuals working on the ground, but with more real-time information we can reduce the risks to crews and pilots and improve our response time to the public,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in a statement. The new satellite data will allow for earlier wildfire detection, provide firefighters with a more detailed look at wildfire conditions, enable faster hot spot detection, and provide the ability to track wildfire progression in real time. The funding is part of a $5 billion investment to improve preparedness, mitigation, and restoration in the face of increasing wildfire danger due to climate change.
There are approximately 70 active wildfires currently burning in the Western U.S., as well as numerous fires in Canada, one of which necessitated the evacuation of 25,000 visitors and residents from Jasper National Park. Over 20 wildfires in Oregon and Washington have burned more than 621,000 acres and caused evacuation orders for thousands of residents. There are also active wildfires in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado. Air quality advisories are in effect across many states due to smoke from these fires.
|
President Biden has been a steadfast champion for Tribes across the United States. His legacy will be etched in history with hope and grace, as he stands among the most impactful presidents.”
