NASA Satellite Captures Image of Georgia Wildfires
A number of fires continue to burn in southeastern Georgia, as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite passed over, capturing this image on April 30. Active fire regions are indicated on the image with red pixels. Gusting winds and a lack of precipitation have added to the intensity of these fires, according to fire officials. Smoke continues to blow out over northern Florida, as seen above.
Two of the largest fires are burning next to each other in the northern section of the Okefenokee Swamp, in Georgia’s Ware County, located just north of Jacksonville, FL. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Sweat Farm Road Fire burned near the town of Waycross in previous weeks, but by the end of April activity had moved to the southeast. These fires have burned over 50,000 acres of timber and swamps and threatened residents scattered throughout this rural area.
The Roundabout Fire, near the community of Kirkland, first sprang up on April 27, according to the U.S. Southern Area Coordination Center. As of May 1, this fire has spread to about 4,200 acres.
The Big Turnaround Complex Fire, another blaze in the eastern part of the region, was extremely active over the weekend, reaching close to 34,000 acres, with flame lengths of more than 60 feet in certain areas.
The Georgia Forestry Commission reports that the fires are expected to continue to spread due to the current drought conditions in the state. + High resolution image
Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response (+ MODIS Rapid Response site
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center