California turns to military technology to help fight fires

Army Times: California has a new level of cooperation with the Pentagon as it tries to avoid another deadly, destructive fire season, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday, downplaying friction with President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Defense Department has agreed to provide information from a Cold War-era military satellite to help spot new wildfires, and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan gave the California National Guard blanket approval through year’s end to use unmanned drones to map fires, count destroyed houses and spot survivors.

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