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Colorado's Indian Gulch Wildfire

NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured an image of the Indian Gulch Wildfire burning near Boulder, Colo. this week (depicted in the blue circle).

High winds with 60-mph gusts blew in Boulder County on Tuesday, March 22 and were a hindrance to the firefighting efforts. Reports from United Press International noted that the wildfire now covers 1,200 acres and the containment is at 15 percent. The area is dealing with dry and windy conditions- which can lead to wildfires. On Thursday, March 24, a Red Flag Warning was in effect from noon to 8pm MDT, calling for gusty winds and low humidity. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent.

The Red Flag warning is in effect for the following areas: Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir, Fairplay, Guffey, Hartsel, Lake George, South Park, Fire Weather Zone 239, Arvada, Boulder, Golden, Lakewood, Longmont, Fire Weather Zone 240, Aurora, Brighton, City Of Denver, Denver International Airport, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Parker, Fire Weather Zone 245, Bennett, Byers, Deer Trail, Leader. The National Weather Service is forecasting west winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph that will develop behind a cold front today. Humidity levels are also expected to fall to 10 to 15 percent today.

Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center