The Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of smoke streaming from the Mormon and Juniper fires between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona, on June 5, 2016.
Suomi NPP is jointly managed by NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Defense. The satellite passed over the Coconino National Forest and captured a visible image of the two fires. The Mormon Fire is located north-northwest of the Juniper Fire. Suomi NPP detected the heat signature of the fire (in red) and saw smoke from both fires blowing to the east on June 5 at 4:00 p.m. EDT (2000 UTC).
InciWeb provided updates on both fires. Inciweb is an interagency all-risk incident information management system that coordinates with federal, state and local agencies to manage wildfires. For updates on all fires, visit the Inciweb website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.
On June 4. InciWeb said the “Mormon Fire is winding down — Operations on the Mormon Fire are ramping down and burnout operations have ceased. The Mormon Fire is moving into monitor status with firefighters conducting mop-up and removing hazardous trees. Residual smoke will continue to be present as firefighters work to fully contain the fire.” The fire started on May 15 and has covered 7,892 acres.
The Juniper Fire covers a much larger area. As of June 5, the fire has covered 22,962 acres and was only 20 percent contained. The fire is located 10 miles south of Young Arizona in the Pleasant Valley Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest. That fire was also caused by lightning on May 17, 2016.
For more information from InciWeb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov.
Image credit: NASA/Goddard EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, Jeff Schmaltz
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.