Numerous wildfires are burning in the state of Arizona and the Suomi NPP satellite managed to image three of them in one pass. The Mormon Fire, Jack Fire, and Pivot Rock fires were all collected by Suomi on June 02, 2016.
The Mormon Fire began as a lightning strike on May 15, 2016. It is currently 3,530 acres in size and is being fuelede by heavy dead and down logs, pine needles, grass and forest litter understory. The Mormon fire is considered a low-intensity fire and is being treated as a prescribed fire. The wildfire will be managed where needed and allowed to function as nature intended.
The Jack Fire began much like the Mormon Fire as a lightning strike on May 29, 2015. Like the Mormon Fire it is also being treated as a prescribed burn. Fire managers with the allowing the fire to fulfill its natural role in the environment by ridding the forest floor of fuels that might, in other circumstances, allow the fire to get out of control. This method creates safer conditions for residents, the public and firefighters, and also restores wildlife habitat by stimulating understory vegetation growth. Jack Fire is 320 acres in size.
The Pivot Rock Fire makes up the final fires in this trio of fires that began as lightning strikes and are being treated a prescribed burns. Pivot Rock began on May 18, 2016 and is currently 5,070 acres in size.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from Inciweb. Suomi NPP is a joint venture between NOAA and NASA.