Fires in Southern California

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Terra satellite took the above images of fires and smoke plumes near Los Angeles on Thursday October 26, 2006. Locations where MODIS detected active fire are outlined in red.

False-color Image of the Wildfires

In the false-color image, combination of infrared bands from MODIS have been added to the image to make active burning areas and burn scars (deep red) stand out better from vegetation (bright green), naturally bare or thinly vegetated ground (pale pink or tan) and smoke (light blue). The patch of light red on top of the image is the burn scar from the Sawtooth Complex and Millard Complex Fires in July (see related Envirocast^® On-Line: July 14, 2006 -- Wildfires in California)

Environmental Impacts:

• The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Terra satellite took above image of the fire and smoke plumes in southern California on October 26, 2006.

• The Esperanza Fire is located 3 miles south of the town of Cabazon, Riverside County, California and is burning in grass, brush, and timber. Extreme and rapid fire spread with spotting well ahead of main fire. Communities and 500KV lines are threatened and area closures are in effect. Approximately 400 people are being “sheltered in place” at the Silent Valley RV Park. Ten structures have been destroyed. Arson has been determined as the cause. Four firefighters from a San Bernardino National Forest fire engine will fatally injured, and one hospitalized in critical condition, as a result of a burnover during the initial attack.

• California wildfires double in size to nearly 24,000 acres, forcing more evacuations.

• By Friday, the fire stretched about 15 miles from east to west, was moving southwest, and was only 5 percent contained.

• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for Riverside County.

• As the fire blazed through a grove of eucalyptus trees, the oils in the trees exploded and caused a splatter, helping to spread the fire quickly.

• Flames swept over the firefighters as they tried to protect a house Thursday, killing three on the scene and a fourth later in a burn center. A fifth one is in critical condition.

• To honor the fallen firefighters, Schwarzenegger ordered flags at the state Capitol in Sacramento and all Department of Forestry and Fire Protection facilities flown at half-staff for 72 hours.

• Investigators determined it was arson after studying the fire's burn patterns and tracing it back to its source. The fire, which began in Cabazon, was well-planned -- set in a place and under conditions that would almost guarantee maximum damage.

• The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Supplementary Material: