Fires in Southwestern United States

Seasonal drying and long-term drought set the stage for summer wildfires to burn throughout the southwestern United States.
Erosion After the Fire
Image

Erosion After the Fire

Hillslope-scale erosion maps helped response teams decide how and where to focus recovery efforts following the Soberanes fire in California.

Published Aug 18, 2017

Image of the Day Land Fires Remote Sensing

Soberanes Still Burns
Image

Soberanes Still Burns

Burning since late July, the Soberanes fire in California has left an extensive mark on the landscape.

Published Sep 21, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Land Life Fires

Increased Fire Comes with Increased Health Risks
Image

Increased Fire Comes with Increased Health Risks

Researchers believe recent fire seasons give a taste of the more active wildfires of the future. Such fires are likely to increase air pollution, even as emissions from industry and motor vehicles have fallen in recent decades.

Published Aug 23, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Fires Remote Sensing

Blue Cut Fire at Night
Image

Blue Cut Fire at Night

Landsat 8 captured a view in the dark with its Thermal Infrared Sensor.

Published Aug 19, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Blue Cut Fire Scorches Southern California
Image

Blue Cut Fire Scorches Southern California

Dry, windy weather intensified the blaze near San Bernardino.

Published Aug 17, 2016

Atmosphere Fires

Wildfire along the California Coast
Image

Wildfire along the California Coast

The Soberanes Fire has been burning for 11 days and may continue for weeks.

Published Aug 2, 2016

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Life Fires

Sand Fire Burn Scar
Image

Sand Fire Burn Scar

False-color images reveal the hot spots and charred land left behind by the fire.

Published Jul 25, 2016

Atmosphere Heat Land Fires Human Presence

Sand Fire, California
Image

Sand Fire, California

The blaze near Angeles National Forest has led to the evacuation of 10,000 homes.

Published Jul 25, 2016

Atmosphere Heat Land Fires Human Presence

Soberanes Fire, California
Image

Soberanes Fire, California

Dry, windy weather promoted the blaze near Big Sur and Monterey.

Published Jul 25, 2016

Atmosphere Land Life Fires Human Presence

Fuller Fire, Arizona
Image

Fuller Fire, Arizona

Fire charred forests along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in July 2016.

Published Jul 20, 2016

Atmosphere Fires

Hayden Pass and Beaver Creek Fires in Colorado
Image

Hayden Pass and Beaver Creek Fires in Colorado

Colorado’s Beaver Creek and Hayden Pass fires continue to blaze.

Published Jul 14, 2016

Atmosphere Heat Land Fires

Hayden Pass Fire, Colorado
Image

Hayden Pass Fire, Colorado

The Hayden Pass Fire has forced the evacuation of more than 100 homes since July 8.

Published Jul 12, 2016

Atmosphere Heat Land Fires

Studying the Sherpa Fire
Image

Studying the Sherpa Fire

As the Sherpa fire charred thousands of acres west of Santa Barbara in June 2016, NASA’s DC-8 flew over and sampled the fire’s smoke.

Published Jul 2, 2016

Image of the Day Land Fires Human Presence

Erskine Fire, California
Image

Erskine Fire, California

An expansive, destructive wildfire north of Los Angeles is visible from space by day and night.

Published Jun 28, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Cedar Fire, Arizona
Image

Cedar Fire, Arizona

Peer through the billowing plume of smoke to see the hot spots associated with the Cedar fire in eastern Arizona.

Published Jun 23, 2016

Heat Fires