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Tag Archives: Wildfire
NASA satellite imagery shows California’s monstrous Blue Cut Fire
The Blue Cut Fire, just outside of Los Angeles, is a quickly growing fire that is currently an imminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass, Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Hills, and surrounding areas. An estimated 34,500 homes and 82,640 people are being affected by the evacuation warnings that have been issued. This wildfire started on August 16, 2016 and the cause is unknown. In the last two days the fire has grown to 31,689 acres with 1584 personnel on scene. 178 engines, 26 crews, 10 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), and 17 Helicopters, including night flying helicopters. Additional firefighters and equipment have been ordered and will be responding directly to the fire. An unknown number of structures are damaged and destroyed. A smoke advisory has been issued for portions of San Bernardino Country.
Unfortunately extreme weather is continuing in the area with hot, dry and breezy (20 mph with gusts to 30 mph) conditions. Very poor relative humidity will continue. All of these will hinder fire fighting efforts and may increase fire spread.
NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite collected this natural-color image using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument on August 17, 2016. Actively burning areas, detected by thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from Inciweb.
Suomi NPP is managed by NASA, NOAA and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Last Updated: Aug. 18, 2016
Editor: Lynn Jenner
Homes burn, thousands flee as fire chars 30,000 acres in Southern California’s Cajon Pass
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LYTLE CREEK, Calif. — An explosive brush fire that has ripped through more than 30,000 acres of hills, canyons and flatlands in Southern California’s Cajon Pass has bewildered veteran firefighters who fear the flames will only worsen. “It hit hard, it hit fast — it hit with an intensity that we haven’t seen before,” San Bernardino… Continue reading Homes burn, thousands flee as fire chars 30,000 acres in Southern California’s Cajon Pass |
Firenado captured on video at Beaver Creek Fire
Thus far, Colorado has been fortunate with relatively few large wildfires. The one notable exception is the Beaver Creek Fire where a firefighter recently captured video of a ‘firenado.’
Also called a fire whirl, a firenado occurs when the rising heat from the blaze meets whirling winds. The effect and appearance is much like a tornado – but made of fire and ash instead of dust and debris. Check out the amazing video below.
As of today, the Beaver Creek Fire has scorched over 36,000 acres since it started on June 19th. Burning northwest of Walden near the Colorado / Wyoming border, the blaze is only 44 percent contained and full containment isn’t expected until cooler temperatures arrive late next month into October.
Click here for the latest details on the blaze from Inciweb.
Satellite imagery shows devastating Canadian wildfire
A fast-moving wildfire burning near Fort McMurray, Alberta has prompted the evacuation of all 88,000 residents of the city. Since the fire started Sunday, at least 1,600 structures have been destroyed.
NASA’s Earth Observatory trained one of its satellites on the area – see below. Read more about the blaze here.
Wildfire Spreads in Fort McMurray
On May 4, 2016, the the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) on the Landsat 7 satellite acquired this false-color image of the wildfire that burned through Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. The image combines shortwave infrared, near infrared, and green light (bands 5-4-2). Near- and short-wave infrared help penetrate clouds and smoke to reveal the hot spots associated with active fires, which appear red. Smoke appears white and burned areas appear brown.
Three German backpackers reported among dead in Australian bushfires
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Sydney (dpa) – Three German backpackers and a local farmer were reported killed in bushfires on the south coast of Western Australia Wednesday. The German man and two women were killed in their car as they tried to flee the raging bushfires, the broadcaster ABC reported local people near Esperance saying. A police spokesman declined to… Continue reading Three German backpackers reported among dead in Australian bushfires |
Five dead and hundreds homeless in California wildfires
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Los Angeles (dpa) – California authorities recovered the bodies of four more people killed in wildfires raging in the central part of the state, bringing the death toll to five, officials said Thursday. The remains of four men who died separately in the Valley fire, north of San Francisco, and the Butte fire, south-east of the… Continue reading Five dead and hundreds homeless in California wildfires |
Terrifying videos capture man’s escape from California wildfire
Colorado has been extremely fortunate this summer with no truly notable wildfires. Other locations across the western U.S. have not been near as lucky. Highlighting this are videos taken by a northern California man as he fled the fast moving Valley Fire.
The Valley Fire broke out Saturday afternoon and quickly exploded forcing thousands to evacuate with little or no notice. Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties. As of this morning the blaze had already consumed 61,000 acres and firefighters only had 5% containment.
A YouTube user posted three videos yesterday showing a harrowing escape down roads in the Anderson Springs and Middletown areas. As he drives, flames burn, oftentimes reaching 10 or more feet into the air, lap the roadway and embers and debris blow across the road.
Watch the terrifying videos below.
California wildfire spreads; governor declares emergency
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A fast-moving wildfire left a path of devastation northwest of Sacramento, Calif., destroying homes and forcing and forcing residents to run for their lives. On Sunday morning, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Lake and Napa counties, noting that he fire forced large evacuations and damage to state infrastructure. The order mobilizes various… Continue reading California wildfire spreads; governor declares emergency |
Washington Fire Now Is the Largest in State’s History
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The fierce group of fires burning in north-central Washington since Thursday morning has grown to be the largest blaze in the state’s history, a fire spokesman told the Associated Press. The Okanogan Complex consists of five wildfires that are burning within Washington’s largest county. Authorities believe the out-of-control fire will continue to burn throughout the week.… Continue reading Washington Fire Now Is the Largest in State’s History |