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July 12, 2025 - Fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon
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Several wildfires burned across northern California and southern Oregon in early July 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of smoke billowing southward from the fires on July 10.
The gray smoke near the center of the image comes from multiple fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Shasta County, California. InciWeb Incident Information System reported that widespread thunderstorms brought more than 3,100 lightning strikes across the Forest between June 30 and July 2, resulting in several wildfires. The largest were the Green Fire, the Horse Fire, and the Helena Fire. As of July 11, the Green Fire had scorched 5,037 acres in steep and rocky terrain east of Shasta Lake and was 0 percent contained. The Helena Fire, located near the community of Helena, had reached full containment after burning about 110 acres. The Horse Fire, located west of Lakehead, had burnt 385 acres and was also 100 percent contained on July 11.
Two major fires in northern California, the Orleans Complex and the Marble Complex contributed to the smoke in northwest of the image. The term “Complex” in the name indicates that more than one fire is being managed by firefighters as a single incident. On July 11, InciWeb reported that the Orleans Complex includes the Butler Fire, which was burning northeast of Orleans and covered 3,971 acres and the Red Fire, which was approximately 113 acres in size. The fires in the Orleans Complex were first reported on July 3 and this Complex was listed as 0 percent contained as of July 11. The Marble Complex began early in July as widespread thunderstorms and lightning ignited 17 fires in the Klamath National Forest. The Marble Complex included the Summit and Jacket Fires. As of July 11, this Complex has blackened 495 acres and was listed as 25 percent contained.
The smoke in the northeast appears to rise from the Elk Fire in southeast Oregon. This fire was reported on the morning of July 8 and was burning in the Bly Mountain area north of Bonanza. The fire prompted evacuations as it spread to 2,592 acres. As of July 11, InciWeb lists the Elk Fire as 0 percent contained.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/10/2025
Resolutions:
1km (183.3 KB), 500m (430 KB), 250m (231.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Several wildfires burned across northern California and southern Oregon in early July 2025. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of smoke billowing southward from the fires on July 10.
The gray smoke near the center of the image comes from multiple fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Shasta County, California. InciWeb Incident Information System reported that widespread thunderstorms brought more than 3,100 lightning strikes across the Forest between June 30 and July 2, resulting in several wildfires. The largest were the Green Fire, the Horse Fire, and the Helena Fire. As of July 11, the Green Fire had scorched 5,037 acres in steep and rocky terrain east of Shasta Lake and was 0 percent contained. The Helena Fire, located near the community of Helena, had reached full containment after burning about 110 acres. The Horse Fire, located west of Lakehead, had burnt 385 acres and was also 100 percent contained on July 11.
Two major fires in northern California, the Orleans Complex and the Marble Complex contributed to the smoke in northwest of the image. The term “Complex” in the name indicates that more than one fire is being managed by firefighters as a single incident. On July 11, InciWeb reported that the Orleans Complex includes the Butler Fire, which was burning northeast of Orleans and covered 3,971 acres and the Red Fire, which was approximately 113 acres in size. The fires in the Orleans Complex were first reported on July 3 and this Complex was listed as 0 percent contained as of July 11. The Marble Complex began early in July as widespread thunderstorms and lightning ignited 17 fires in the Klamath National Forest. The Marble Complex included the Summit and Jacket Fires. As of July 11, this Complex has blackened 495 acres and was listed as 25 percent contained.
The smoke in the northeast appears to rise from the Elk Fire in southeast Oregon. This fire was reported on the morning of July 8 and was burning in the Bly Mountain area north of Bonanza. The fire prompted evacuations as it spread to 2,592 acres. As of July 11, InciWeb lists the Elk Fire as 0 percent contained.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/10/2025
Resolutions:
1km (183.3 KB), 500m (430 KB), 250m (231.3 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
