Images
February 13, 2026 - Prescribed Burns in Texas
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Smoke streaked the skies from several fires burning in North Central Texas in mid-February 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the region on February 12.
The spider-web-like conglomeration of gray pixels near the top of the image marks human construction in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. A similar set of gray pixels to the southeast is the city of Houston. At least five plumes of smoke can be seen in forests and grasslands north of Houston and three west of Dallas-Fort Worth, each marking the site of an actively burning fire.
While it’s not possible for satellite imagery alone to define the cause of a fire, the time of year, location, and number of fires strongly suggest these are prescribed burns— fires that have been deliberately ignited and controlled to manage wildland or agricultural land. More evidence is that no wildfires have been reported in the area on InciWeb Incidence Information System, a wildfire tracker for the United States, or the fire incident map of Texas published by the Western Fire Chiefs. However, the Western Fire Chiefs map showed nearly a dozen prescribed burns underway in this general area on February 12.
The National Forest Service for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) describes prescribed burns in the state. It states, “Fire is a natural and essential part of healthy forest and grassland ecosystems. On the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT), fire management helps reduce hazardous fuels, restore native plant communities, and support wildlife habitat.” Key objective of prescribed burns include reducing wildfire risk to communities and natural resources, maintaining and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, improving forest health and resilience, and providing training opportunities for wildland firefighters.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/12/2026
Resolutions:
1km (205.6 KB), 500m (535.6 KB), 250m (783.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Smoke streaked the skies from several fires burning in North Central Texas in mid-February 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the region on February 12.
The spider-web-like conglomeration of gray pixels near the top of the image marks human construction in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. A similar set of gray pixels to the southeast is the city of Houston. At least five plumes of smoke can be seen in forests and grasslands north of Houston and three west of Dallas-Fort Worth, each marking the site of an actively burning fire.
While it’s not possible for satellite imagery alone to define the cause of a fire, the time of year, location, and number of fires strongly suggest these are prescribed burns— fires that have been deliberately ignited and controlled to manage wildland or agricultural land. More evidence is that no wildfires have been reported in the area on InciWeb Incidence Information System, a wildfire tracker for the United States, or the fire incident map of Texas published by the Western Fire Chiefs. However, the Western Fire Chiefs map showed nearly a dozen prescribed burns underway in this general area on February 12.
The National Forest Service for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) describes prescribed burns in the state. It states, “Fire is a natural and essential part of healthy forest and grassland ecosystems. On the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT), fire management helps reduce hazardous fuels, restore native plant communities, and support wildlife habitat.” Key objective of prescribed burns include reducing wildfire risk to communities and natural resources, maintaining and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, improving forest health and resilience, and providing training opportunities for wildland firefighters.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 2/12/2026
Resolutions:
1km (205.6 KB), 500m (535.6 KB), 250m (783.4 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
