October 29, 2012 - Fires in Idaho

Fires in Idaho

p> On October 18, 2012 multiple fires continued to burn in the western United States. At 2020 UTC (2:20 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time) on that day the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of the fires burning in Idaho.

The Powell Complex fire, located near the center of the image started on July 20, 2012 from multiple lightning strikes and as of October 18 had burned 67,000 acres. The Powell Complex consists of three main and numerous small fires arranged in an arc running southeast to southwest of the town of Powell, Idaho and straddling the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. The fires are presently located entirely on the Nez Pierce-Clearwater National Forests.

Approximately two inches of rain has fallen on the fire area since October 12 which has helped to quell the fires. Containment of the fire is expected by October 31, 2012.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 10/18/2012
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC