September 29, 2014 - Fires in Idaho

Fires in Idaho

Smoke from several fires is seen blowing across Idaho in this true-color image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite on September 15, 2014.

Red hotspots mark areas where the thermal bands on the MODIS instrument have detected temperatures higher than back ground. When combined with smoke, as in this image, such hotspots mark actively burning fires. The most easily observed hotspot is the Selway Complex fire, in the southeast corner of the image. Near the center of the image heavy smoke rises from the Johnson Bar fire, obscuring the red hotspot. Smoke from both flow co-mingle and have settled into the Selway River Valley.

All of the Selway Complex fires began between August 10 and August 25, 2014 and were ignited by lightning strikes. The following fires are part of the Selway Complex: Raven Creek, Elevator Mountain, Eagle Creek, Vance Mountain, Nick Wynn, and Jerusalem fires.

The Johnson Bar fire, burning near Lowell, Idaho is also contributing to the smoke in the valley. This fire began with a lightning strike on August 03, 2014. As of September 27, it had consumed 13,261 acres, according to Inciweb, and was 65% contained.

Image Facts
Satellite: Terra
Date Acquired: 9/15/2014
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC