Fires and Heavy Smoke in Alaska

Fires and Heavy Smoke in Alaska

According to reports from the Alaska Fire Service, 50 active fires are burning in the state as of August 1, 2002. More than 1 million acres have burned so far this year. This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from August 1, 2002, shows multiple large fires (red dots) are emitting thick plumes of smoke that are blanketing the southern part of the state. The Yukon River comes in at upper right and flows toward the bottom left of the image.

For false-color images that highlight the burned area extent, visit the MODIS Rapid Response System.

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC