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June 28, 2024 - Wildfires in Central California
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A sweeping thunderstorm, full of lightning, passed over central California on June 24, 2024, igniting more than twenty fires in abundant, tinder-dry grasses. Most of these fires were quickly suppressed, but several expanded rapidly. According to CAL Fire, the two largest fires in the state currently are located in central California. These are the Fresno June Lightning Complex and the Basin Fire.
On June 26, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) acquired a true-color image that captured both the Basin Fire, in the east, and the Fresno June Lightning Complex fire, located tsouthwest of the Basin Fire. Each red “hot spot” marks an area where the thermal bands on the instrument detected high temperatures. When accompanied by typical smoke, as in this image, such hot spots are diagnostic for actively burning fires.
The Fresno June Lightning Complex began on the afternoon of June 24 as multiple individual fires east of the city of Sanger in Fresno County. This includes the Flash/Bolt fires, Hog Fire, and Strike Fire, all of which are being managed as a single fire complex. According to CAL Fire, as of 6:43 on June 27, the complex has burnt 10,669 acres in Fresno County and was 34 percent contained. There were 1,573 personnel, 17 helicopters, 104 engines, 26 dozers, and 31 water tenders involved in fighting the fire. Mandatory evacuation orders were in effect for several areas within the county and portions of at least 4 roads were reported closed at that time. The cause is listed as lightning strike.
The Basin Fire also ignited on June 24 as one of 18 fires in the Sierra National Forest, according to InciWeb Incident Information System. As of the afternoon of June 17, the fire had expanded to cover 2,635 acres and was reported at 0 percent contained. The Basin Fire was burning in steep terrain primarily on grass and on oak timber. Two hundred personnel were reported to be working the fire, which has been very active with running and spotting ahead of the main fire.
InciWeb also reports that strong winds are expected to continue through the next two days. The combination of strong wind, low humidity, high temperatures, and abundant dry grass brings an elevated risk of new fire starts and expansion of existing fires. Although fires can ignite at any time in California, the “fire season” typically begins in June and runs through November.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/26/2024
Resolutions:
1km (36.8 KB), 500m (122.9 KB), 250m (364.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A sweeping thunderstorm, full of lightning, passed over central California on June 24, 2024, igniting more than twenty fires in abundant, tinder-dry grasses. Most of these fires were quickly suppressed, but several expanded rapidly. According to CAL Fire, the two largest fires in the state currently are located in central California. These are the Fresno June Lightning Complex and the Basin Fire.
On June 26, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) acquired a true-color image that captured both the Basin Fire, in the east, and the Fresno June Lightning Complex fire, located tsouthwest of the Basin Fire. Each red “hot spot” marks an area where the thermal bands on the instrument detected high temperatures. When accompanied by typical smoke, as in this image, such hot spots are diagnostic for actively burning fires.
The Fresno June Lightning Complex began on the afternoon of June 24 as multiple individual fires east of the city of Sanger in Fresno County. This includes the Flash/Bolt fires, Hog Fire, and Strike Fire, all of which are being managed as a single fire complex. According to CAL Fire, as of 6:43 on June 27, the complex has burnt 10,669 acres in Fresno County and was 34 percent contained. There were 1,573 personnel, 17 helicopters, 104 engines, 26 dozers, and 31 water tenders involved in fighting the fire. Mandatory evacuation orders were in effect for several areas within the county and portions of at least 4 roads were reported closed at that time. The cause is listed as lightning strike.
The Basin Fire also ignited on June 24 as one of 18 fires in the Sierra National Forest, according to InciWeb Incident Information System. As of the afternoon of June 17, the fire had expanded to cover 2,635 acres and was reported at 0 percent contained. The Basin Fire was burning in steep terrain primarily on grass and on oak timber. Two hundred personnel were reported to be working the fire, which has been very active with running and spotting ahead of the main fire.
InciWeb also reports that strong winds are expected to continue through the next two days. The combination of strong wind, low humidity, high temperatures, and abundant dry grass brings an elevated risk of new fire starts and expansion of existing fires. Although fires can ignite at any time in California, the “fire season” typically begins in June and runs through November.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 6/26/2024
Resolutions:
1km (36.8 KB), 500m (122.9 KB), 250m (364.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
