The images on the right column were taken by the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA's Aqua satellite. They show how wildfires evolved near Yosemite valley, CA between September 25 and 29, 2003.

Yosemite Area:

		Annotation	Limited Annotation	No Annotation
Sep. 25	NTSC 720x486
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Sep.27	NTSC 720x486
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Sep.29	NTSC 720x486
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Environmental Impacts:

• From the animation above, we can clearly see how wildfire smoke moved into the Yosemite Valley as prevailing wind direction changed.

• In the mountains of the West, fires typically continue to develop until the winter rains and snows put an end to the season. But this 2003 fire season has been relatively quiet so far, compared to 2002 when the huge McNally fire burned more than 150,000 acres in six weeks in southeastern Tulare County.

• Officials with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection warn that until fire season is over, there is potential for a major wildfire to wreak havoc.

• The fires (Kibbie Complex) in Yosemite National Park, is located 28 miles west/northwest of Sonora, CA. This complex is in ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and brush. They have burned 9,230 acres and are 88 percent contained as of September 30. Fire activity increased on the Tuolumne and Kibbie fires due to stronger winds. 525 firefighters worked to suppress the flames as of September 29.

• The Mud Complex fires have burned 4,960 acres and Mountain Complex  fires have burned 3,747acres as of September 30, but incident commander Jon Payne said those blazes appear to be well in hand.

• High temperatures and low humidity combined to allow the Kibbie Complex fire, burning in Yosemite's northwest corner and into the adjoining Stanislaus National Forest, to grow from about 2,500 acres early last week to about 9,230 acres by Tuesday (September 30) night, far faster than park crews could dig containment lines.

• The Tuolumne fire, in Yosemite's midsection in the drainage of the Tuolumne River's Upper Fork near White Wolf, roared from about 200 acres on September 23 to about 2,200 acres by Monday (September 29).

• Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman reported that all 14 of the wildfires burning in the park last week were from lightning.

• The Senate increased funds for fighting wildfires by $400 million on September 16, nearly doubling fire suppression money in a $20 billion Interior Department spending bill. With the funding, an extra $319 million will be used for the costs of battling this year's Western wildfires. The House-passed bill provided $690 million for fire suppression, while the original Senate bill had $514 million.

 Related Envirocast^TM TV Updates:

• September 30, 2003