Steven Guilbeault

LONGUEUIL, Que. – Canada is investing $72 million on a novel satellite constellation that will monitor active forest fires across the country, the Canadian Space Agency announced Friday. Consisting of seven satellites that will enter orbit in 2029, the WildFireSat program will collect daily data on active forest fires, allowing officials to determine which blazes are the most dangerous and predict their behaviour. That information will help officials make better use of firefighters and equipment, and ultimately save lives, Lisa Campbell, Canadian Space Agency president, told reporters at the agency’s headquarters on Montreal’s South Shore. …The money will go to Ontario-based Spire Global Canada, which will develop the satellite constellation. Infrared sensors will be installed on the satellites to produce thermal imaging, allowing officials to assess the intensity of the fires and track their progress.