NASA satellites capture California wildfires

In early May 20103, dry Santa Ana winds started several wildfires in Southern California, USA. NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites captured images of the fires with their Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The red lines on the picture indicate where MODIS detected unusually warm surface temperatures indicating fires about 50 miles north of Los Angeles.

NASA reported: "According to firefighting agencies in California, the Springs fire had spread over 10,000 acres by 6:30 a.m. on May 3. More than 30 homes and other buildings had been damaged by fire, and another 4,300 were threatened. The fire was being fought by more than 900 firefighters on the ground and 14 water-dropping helicopters and planes, and it was 10 percent contained by the morning of May 3.