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Rimrock Fire Update

As of August 8, 2006, the National Interagency Fire Center estimated that the Tripod Complex Fire had grown to 68,312 acres. Firefighters had the blaze about 10 percent contained. This image (click to enlarge) of the area was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on August 7, and places where the sensor detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. Numerous spots were burning in the complex, and strong winds spread a thick river of smoke toward the northeast. On the southwest side of Lake Chelan, the smaller Tin Pan Fire was estimated to be 4,095 acres. The Tin Pan Fire is a “Wildland Fire Use” fire, which means it is a naturally ignited fire that firefighters allow to burn according to a pre-determined natural resource management plan. + High resolution image Credit: NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center

Fire Update in Northern Washington State

In the mountains of northern Washington, the Tripod Complex Fire burned from July into August. This image of the region was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on August 6, 2006. Click on image to enlarge. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fires are marked in red. The actively burning parts of the Tripod Complex make two rough circles in the rugged terrain northeast of the city of Twisp. Smoke billows thickly across the state and into British Columbia, Canada.

According to the August 7 report from the National Interagency Fire Center, the Tripod Complex Fire had grown to an estimated 57, 535 acres, and firefighters had it about 10 percent contained. Numerous residences and other structures were threatened by the fire, which was burning through timber that had been killed by beetle infestation.

Fires in Northern California

In the Klamath Mountains of Northern California, several large fires were burning in early August 2006. When the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite passed overhead on August 3, it captured this image (Click image to enlarge.) of smoke-filled skies over the area. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fires are outlined in red. According to the National Interagency Fire Center report from August 4, the Uncles Complex Fire was 7,000 acres and about 10 percent contained, while the Orleans Complex was 4,276 acres and about 5 percent contained. To the south, the Panther Fire was 520 acres and 75 contained, while the Hunter Fire was estimated at 5,501 acres and 35 percent contained. + High resolution image Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center




Fires in Northern Washington

In the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in northern Washington, a complex of two large fires that started in July continued to burn on August 2, 2006. Click on image to enlarge. The Tripod Complex Fire was burning in beetle-killed lodgepole pine forests and had grown to more than 40,000 acres as of August 3, according to estimates from the National Interagency Fire Center. West of Lake Chelan, the smaller Tin Pan Fire continued to burn as well.

This image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on August 2. Places where the sensor detected actively burning fire are outlined in red.

The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at additional resolutions. + High resolution image Credit: NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center

Fires in Northern California

Several large wildfires were burning in Northern California on August 1, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite passed overhead and captured this image. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. Smoke hangs over the forested mountains.

Firefighters in the area had their hands full with numerous blazes that were threatening residences, communications infrastructure, old growth forest, wildlife habitat, and cultural resources. According to reports form the National Interagency Fire Center on August 2, 2006, the 3,450-acre Orleans Complex Fire was threatening a municipal water supply. Challenges at the 6,450-acre Uncles Fire included steep terrain, limited access roads, and poor visibility from smoke that was lingering near the ground. The 4,805-acre Hunter Fire was threatening spotted owl habitat and fisheries.

The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides daily images of the area in a variety of resolutions and formats.

+ High Resolution Image

Fires in Northern Washington

In northern Washington, two large fires were burning on July 25, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite passed overhead and captured this image. The location of the Tripod and Tin Pan Fires are outlined in red. Winds appear to have been blowing eastward at the time of the image; smoke blows east over the Columbia River.

According to reports from the National Interagency Fire Center on July 26, the Tripod Fire was 1,000 acres and was burning in rugged terrain with lots of dead and down fuel. The Tin Pan Fire was about 2,800 acres and was burning rapidly through timber. The Tin Pan Fire was triggered by lightning and was being allowed to burn according to a natural resource management plan.

The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters per pixel. It is a mosaic of two satellite images captured about two hours apart. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides daily images of the area in a variety of resolutions and formats.

+ High resolution image

Updated on Wildfires in Montana and Wyoming

Fires have been racing through sagebrush, timber, and grasslands in Montana throughout mid-July 2006. On July 18, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of fires along Fort Peck Lake in northern Montana. Places where the sensor detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. Burned areas appear dark brown. The Soda Creek Fire was about 23,000 acres and 5 percent contained as of July 19, and the Black Pulaski Complex of fires totaled about 52,000 acres and was about 20 percent contained.

+ High resolution image

Update on California Fires

According to news reports, the Sawtooth and Millard Complex Fires in southern California east of San Bernardino merged on Friday afternoon, July 14, 2006. This pair of images of the two fires was captured on July 14 before the two fires joined. The top image is a photo-like, natural-color satellite image captured by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus sensor on NASA’s Landsat satellite. The dull vegetation of this semi-arid region at the western edge of the Mojave Desert appears brownish, while canyons and bare spots appear tan. The false-color image below includes satellite observations of shortwave and near-infrared light reflected from the ground. In this view, vegetation appears bright green, burned areas appear deep red, and actively flaming fire fronts appear hot pink. Smoke appears blue.

These fires were burning in an area with large expanses of dead trees that were killed by pine bark beetles. As of July 19, 2006, the Sawtooth Complex Fire was 61,700 acres and fully contained, while the Millard Complex Fire was about 24,210 acres and 57 percent contained. According to reports from the National Interagency Fire Center, 221 structures were lost in the Sawtooth Fire.

+ High resolution image

Fires in California



Two wildfires burning in the Mojave Desert at the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California continued to spread and threatened to merge into a single large blaze in mid-July 2006. At just over 8,000 acres as of July 14, the Millard Complex Fire is the smaller of the two, and it is located farther west. To the east is the larger Sawtooth Complex Fire, which was about 48,000 acres. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of the area on July 13, 2006, at 2:10 p.m. local time. Locations where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red.

The Sawtooth Fire is burning mostly in chaparral, an ecosystem dominated by dense thickets of low-growing, drought-adapted shrub. Part of the fire has invaded the San Bernardino National Forest. The Millard Fire is burning in chaparral and conifer forest. Both fires are threatening homes in the region. As of July 14, the National Interagency Fire Center estimated the Sawtooth Fire was 20 percent contained; the Millard Fire was about 5 percent contained.

The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per image pixel. That image also shows a wider area, providing a view of the Canyon Fire, which is burning in the Diablo Mountains to the east of San Jose. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily images of this area in a variety of resolutions.

+ High resolution image

Wildfires in Montana and Wyoming



In Montana, two large fires were burning along the Yellowstone and Bighorn Rivers east of Billings in mid-July 2006. The Bundy Railroad Fire threatened structures, powerlines, rangeland and livestock, and timber. Voluntary evacuations were underway in the region as of July 17, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire was about 80,000 acres. To the south, the Pine Ridge Complex Fire was about 100,000 acres, and it was threatening numerous residences, agricultural property, and a highway rest area.

This image of the fires was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on July 16. Places where the sensor detected active fire are outlined in red. The burned areas appear dark brown and are partially hidden by smoke.

+ High resolution image

Credit: All images courtesy NASA's MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center

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