This image from May 16, 2002, from the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) shows the state of Alaska, including smoke plumes from several fires in the central portion of the state.
Image courtesy the SeaWiFS Project, NASA GSFC, and ORBIMAGE
Unusually hot and dry conditions in Alaska gave an early May start to the annual fire season, and wildfires continue to blaze across the state in August 2002.