Today's Image

Rapid spread of California’s Colby Fire on January 16

NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the Colby fire just before noon on January 16.   Image via NASA Earth Observatory
NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the Colby fire just before noon on January 16. Image via NASA Earth Observatory

Here are two images of the Colby Fire, via NASA’s Terra satellite. The fire started yesterday (January 16, 2014) in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles and rapidly spread. The image at top is from just before noon yesterday, and the image below is from just after noon. We heard from many yesterday about the smokey skies in Los Angeles, which issued air quality warnings.

NASA says the morning image is clearer because the scene was centered under the satellite, while the afternoon image is fuzzy because the satellite was observing from an angle.

InciWeb this morning (January 17) says that the fire is now 30% contained and that 1,709 acres have burned. A Red Flag Warning has been extended to today due to a Santa Ana wind event. As of 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, nearly 500 firefighters were working the fire, which had destroyed at least two homes.

Via NASA Earth Observatory

NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the Colby fire just after noon on January 16.   Image via NASA Earth Observatory
NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the Colby fire just after noon on January 16. Image via NASA Earth Observatory
Posted 
January 17, 2014
 in 
Today's Image

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