January 5, 2010 - Fires in the Fiji Islands

Fires in the Fiji Islands

A number of fires were burning on the Fiji Islands when the MODIS on the Aqua satellite captured this image on December 29, 2009. Fiji has had a number of problems with forest fires recently. Three teams of firefighters spent Christmas weekend trying to control fires at the Lololo Pine Station outside Lautoka. Close to 300 acres of pine forest were destroyed by fires that were thought to have been sset by arsonists, the Fiji Times reports.

Initially the fires were thought to be the result of carelessness, but for every fire that was extinguished, another one was discovered. Many of the fires were also set deep in the forests. Teams controlling the fires ultimately witnessed a group of people allegedly lighting the forest with matches and were able to apprehend them.

A few days before New Years another 150 acres of pine forest were destroyed. The Fiji Times reports that it is believed that again these fires were started by careless people playing with matches and not realizing the damage they were causing, or the strain on the firefighters and firefighting resources.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 12/29/2009
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC