Fire and Smoke
NASA satellites, aircraft, and research know-how have created a wealth of cutting-edge tools to help firefighters battle wildfires.
Fire and Smoke Photos (USA)
Thermal and infrared images taken by NASA aircraft in the ongoing effort to assist the nation's fire fighting workforce.
Latest News
NASA Satellite Image of Boulder, Colorado's Indian Gulch Wildfire
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.
› Read more
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.› Read more
WSFM News and Features
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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).
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NASA Aircraft Flies California Post-burn Imaging
11.24.09 - NASA's remotely piloted Predator B aircraft, the Ikhana, equipped with an infrared imaging sensor, recently conducted post-burn assessments of two Southern California wildfire sites, the Piute Fire in Kern County and the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest.
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NASA Supports California Wildfire Control Efforts
10.01.09 - NASA and the U.S. Forest Service again partnered to obtain visible light, infrared and thermal imagery of California wildfires in response to July 2008 requests from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the National Interagency Fire Center.
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California Governor Visits NASA Ames Research Center
07.14.08 - MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited NASA’s Ames Research Center today to see first-hand how the agency is helping firefighters battle the widespread wildfires raging throughout the state.
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NASA Ames Scores Three Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards
09.26.08 - MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – Three teams of NASA Ames computer programmers, heat shield engineers and Earth scientists were honored earlier this month by the Federal Laboratory Consortium Far West Region for developing innovative technologies and partnerships.
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NASA Responds to California Wildfire Emergency Imaging Request
07.11.08 - A remotely piloted aircraft carrying a NASA sensor flew over much of California earlier this week, gathering information that will be used to help fight more than 300 wildfires burning within the state.
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Images of the Harris Fire Taken from the NASA Ikhana Unmanned Airplane
10.24.07 - Images of the Harris fire taken from the NASA Ikhana Mission on Oct. 24, 2007.
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Remotely piloted aircraft to demonstrate imaging
08.22.07 - Dryden is conducting flights of a remotely piloted unmanned aircraft to demonstrate sophisticated new imaging and communications equipment.
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NASA Supports UAS Fire Mapping Efforts on California Fire
11.06.06 - A team led by NASA and U.S. Forest Service scientists recently collected real-time, visible and infrared data from sensors onboard a remotely piloted aircraft over the Esperanza Fire in Southern California.
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NASA and US Forest Service to Tame Wildfires with UAV Capabilities
05.30.06 - Reporters are invited to observe advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies that expand wildfire imaging and mapping capabilities.
