Images
November 11, 2018 - Fires in California
Tweet
By September, 2018, California’s destructive, wildfire season made new records when the Mendocino Complex Fire consumed more than 410,000 acres to become the largest wildfire in that state’s history. Ignited on July 27 and declared 100 percent contained on September 18. That fire also destroyed 157 homes, and killed a firefighter.
Less than 2 months later, a new fire has reached the record books as the most destructive fire in California’s history. As of November 10, the Camp Fire had charred 100,000 acres, destroyed 6,453 homes and 260 commercial buildings, with some early estimates of more than $2.9 billion in damages. Nine fatalities have been confirmed, although late on November 10 local media reported that Butte County government officials announced that 23 persons had been confirmed killed with 100 more missing.
Prior to the Camp Fire, California’s most destructive fire was the Tubbs Fire which burned 36,807 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties and destroyed 5,636 structures. The Tubbs Fire burned in October 2017, killing 22 people. The most deadly fire in California history was the Tunnel Fire. In October, 1991, that fire killed 25 people as it burned in Alameda County.
On November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire erupted 90 miles (140 kilometers) north of Sacramento, California. Strong winds pushed the fire to the south and southwest overnight, tripling its size and spreading smoke over the Sacramento Valley. More than 2,000 personnel have been sent to fight the Camp Fire, which is predicted to be fully contained by Nov. 30. Firefighters are having difficulty containing it due to strong winds, which fan the flames and carry burning vegetation downwind. The area also has heavy and dry fuel loads, or flammable material.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on November 8. Heavy dark gray smoke rises from the large burn area and pours across the state and over the Pacific Ocean.
Many new fires have started in recent days in tinder-dry California with the flames fanned by high wind, low humidity, and warm temperatures. As of November 10, the National Interagency Fire Center reported five “major” fires burning across the state. These include the Camp Fire, the Alder and Mountaineer Fires in Sequoia National Forest, Eden Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, and the Woolsey and Hill Fires in Ventura County.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/8/2018
Resolutions:
1km (54.6 KB), 500m (194.1 KB), 250m (635.8 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
By September, 2018, California’s destructive, wildfire season made new records when the Mendocino Complex Fire consumed more than 410,000 acres to become the largest wildfire in that state’s history. Ignited on July 27 and declared 100 percent contained on September 18. That fire also destroyed 157 homes, and killed a firefighter.
Less than 2 months later, a new fire has reached the record books as the most destructive fire in California’s history. As of November 10, the Camp Fire had charred 100,000 acres, destroyed 6,453 homes and 260 commercial buildings, with some early estimates of more than $2.9 billion in damages. Nine fatalities have been confirmed, although late on November 10 local media reported that Butte County government officials announced that 23 persons had been confirmed killed with 100 more missing. Prior to the Camp Fire, California’s most destructive fire was the Tubbs Fire which burned 36,807 acres in Napa and Sonoma counties and destroyed 5,636 structures. The Tubbs Fire burned in October 2017, killing 22 people. The most deadly fire in California history was the Tunnel Fire. In October, 1991, that fire killed 25 people as it burned in Alameda County.
On November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire erupted 90 miles (140 kilometers) north of Sacramento, California. Strong winds pushed the fire to the south and southwest overnight, tripling its size and spreading smoke over the Sacramento Valley. More than 2,000 personnel have been sent to fight the Camp Fire, which is predicted to be fully contained by Nov. 30. Firefighters are having difficulty containing it due to strong winds, which fan the flames and carry burning vegetation downwind. The area also has heavy and dry fuel loads, or flammable material.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on November 8. Heavy dark gray smoke rises from the large burn area and pours across the state and over the Pacific Ocean.
Many new fires have started in recent days in tinder-dry California with the flames fanned by high wind, low humidity, and warm temperatures. As of November 10, the National Interagency Fire Center reported five “major” fires burning across the state. These include the Camp Fire, the Alder and Mountaineer Fires in Sequoia National Forest, Eden Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, and the Woolsey and Hill Fires in Ventura County.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/8/2018
Resolutions:
1km (54.6 KB), 500m (194.1 KB), 250m (635.8 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
