Fires in Arizona and New Mexico (afternoon overpass)

Gusty winds, steep and rocky terrain, low humidity, and water shortages are slowing the progress of firefighters as they work to contain the Aspen Fire northeast of Tucson, Arizona (red dots southwest of image center). The fire has burned hundreds of homes and other structures in communities on Mt. Lemmon. After beginning on June 17 of unknown causes, the fire had already grown to more than 11,000 acres by Monday, June 23. This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite on June 22, 2003, shows the Aspen Fire northeast of Tucson and farther north, the Picture Fire northeast of Phoenix. Fires are also burning in New Mexico (right) and Mexico (bottom). All active fire locations are marked in red.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published June 23, 2003
Data acquired June 22 - 22, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topic:

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires

Collections:

MODIS Rapid Response

Visible Earth