Astronaut Alexander Gerst tweeted these photos on August 3 of the wildfires in California, apparently taken from the International Space Station. He didn’t specify the date, but presumably they are very recent.
I’m not positive, but I think the photo that has multiple fires includes, from bottom to top (south to north), the Ferguson Fire at Yosemite National Park, the Mendocino Complex east of Ukiah, and the Carr Fire at Redding. The smoke farther north could be the Natchez Fire and blazes in Oregon. The other photo is most likely the Ferguson Fire.
Click on the images twice to see larger versions.
California burning. These fires are frightening to watch, even from space. Here’s a shout-out from space to all firefighters on this planet, my former colleagues. Stay safe my friends! pic.twitter.com/y7PNmR006b
The fire is well established on the east side of Highway 41 and has crossed Glacier Point Road
(UPDATED at 5:20 a.m. PDT August 4, 2018)
Map showing the perimeter of the Ferguson Fire at 1:30 a.m. PDT August 4, 2018. The red shaded areas represent intense heat at that time. The blue line at the top is the 2013 Rim Fire. Click to enlarge.
These two maps of the Ferguson Fire at Yosemite National Park in California include the latest perimeter data collected by a fixed wing aircraft at 1:30 a.m. PDT August 4, 2018.
Friday afternoon the fire spotted across two highways running for almost a mile in both places — east of Highway 41 at Glacier Point Road, and across Highway 140 below Foresta. The slop over across 41 was approximately 200 acres at 1:30 a.m. PDT on Saturday. About half of that crossed over Glacier Point Road.
Map showing the northeast perimeter of the Ferguson Fire at 1:30 a.m. PDT August 4, 2018. The red shaded areas represent intense heat at that time. Click to enlarge.
Below is an excerpt from a Friday evening update by the incident management team:
The Ferguson Fire grew by 3,647 acres throughout the day and was at 77,207 acres as of 6 p.m. Containment is at 41 percent. Firefighters worked throughout the day on a spot fire that jumped the Merced River early this morning and is burning in the Crane Creek drainage southwest of Foresta. Aircraft dropped water and retardant in support of firefighters.
Bulldozers and hand crews built containment lines between the fire and Foresta. Engines and crews remained in Foresta for structure protection. While Yosemite Valley was not in imminent danger, dangerous road conditions, smoke and a loss of power prompted Yosemite National Park officials to evacuate the area until further notice.
Later in the afternoon, another spot fire emerged west of Wawona Road (Highway 41) and began advancing toward Badger Pass. Evacuations were issued along Highway 140 out of concern that shifting winds overnight could bring the fire back into the communities.
On the north side of the fire, crews completed tactical firing along Pilot Ridge on the Mariposa-Tuolumne county line. They will perform firing operations south along the 13 Road as weather allows to fully contain the fire’s northern perimeter.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Ferguson Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
(UPDATED at 7:17 p.m. PDT August 3, 2018)
The satellite heat sensing data from 2:43 p.m. PDT August 3, 2018, represented by the red dots, can be seen in the map above.
The satellite heat sensing data from 2:43 p.m. PDT August 3, 2018, represented by the red dots, can be seen in the map above. It shows heat where the Ferguson Fire, at Yosemite National Park in California, crossed Highway 41 near Glacier Point Road, and Highway 140 south and southeast of Foresta.
Late in the day the Ranch Fire ran for at least five miles to the southeast
The northernmost of the two fires in the Mendocino Complex east of Ukiah, California, the Ranch Fire, was very active late in the day on Wednesday, running for at least five miles to the southeast according to the very reliable information from a mapping aircraft at 11:10 p.m. August 1. It is possible it may have spread for an additional three miles three to five hours later, but the data from the later overflights by the MODIS and VIIRS satellites could have been detecting heat and debris in a powerful convection column, rather than fire on the ground. All of the significant activity on the Ranch Fire Wednesday was on the northeast and east sides.
Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the Mendocino Complex of Fires at 11:10 p.m. MDT, August 1, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before. The red shaded areas represent intense heat. Click to enlarge.
With the expansion of the Ranch Fire it is now about three to five miles northeast of the community of Nice and four to seven miles northeast of Lucerne; both of these communities are on the east shore of Clear Lake.
To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.
Apparently firefighters on the River Fire have been very successful on the south and east flanks, with those locations showing little to no growth Wednesday in the Lakeport and Finley areas. The north side, however, was quite active, spreading north for about a half mile across the north perimeter.
CAL FIRE reports that 14 residences have been destroyed. The two fires have burned a total of 110,168 acres — 74,890 on the Ranch Fire and 35,278 on the River Fire, according to the numbers released by CAL FIRE Thursday morning.
There are media reports that homes were destroyed Tuesday afternoon northwest of Lakeport
ABOVE: Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the east side of the River Fire (part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires) at 11:46 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.
(Originally published at 10 a.m. PDT August 1, 2018)
Tuesday afternoon winds pushed the two blazes that comprise the Mendocino Complex of Fires farther east, both spreading for at least a mile. The Ranch Fire moved into sparsely populated areas, but the River Fire ran through an area with scattered ranches northwest of Lakeport, California. Media personnel on scene said the fire was especially intense near Dessie Drive and Hendricks Road. CAL FIRE said Wednesday morning that a total of 10 residences have been destroyed in the two fires, but it is not clear if that number includes what could be additional losses late in the day on Tuesday.
To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.
Firefighters were extremely busy Tuesday in that wildland-urban interface as the fire raced through the populated areas. They were protecting structures, then getting chased out by flames, and reestablishing a defense at another structure.
Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the Mendocino Complex of Fires at 11:46 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.
Both fires started in Mendocino County but burned into Lake County. The Ranch Fire is now also well established in the Mendocino National Forest.
According to the numbers CAL FIRE released Wednesday morning, the two fires have burned 90,912 acres; 59,019 on the Ranch Fire, and 31,898 on the River Fire.
As usual, Kent Porter got some fabulous shots of the River Fire Tuesday:
The #Riverfire blew in to Scotts Valley Tuesday off of Cow Mountain devouring structures on its way. A Pyrocumulus cloud also developed from the #Ranchfire as helicopters were used in the fight on the River. @NorthBayNews pic.twitter.com/zrr5x5I8k2
Just disengaged from the #mendocinocomplex to take a breather in deserted Lakeport. Some of the most intense wildland urban interface firefighting I’ve seen in 100 fires. Fire behavior I saw today is terrifying, there is little to stop it other than fire front following.
Below, a CAL FIRE Battalion Chief explains how they fight fires when you don’t have enough resources. Basically, you protect lives and private property first, then as time and resources permit, deal with the part of the fire that is burning in remote areas.
Limited Resources, Unlimited Fire. CAL FIRE Makes Compromises. #MendocinoComplex https://t.co/IeMXmr9lAz
Above: A Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain collects hose so that he can move it further up the hill.
Fire photographer Jeff Zimmerman shot these photos July 30 at a vegetation fire in Newhall, California. Here is what he wrote in an email:
A 10-acre brush fire damaged two apartment buildings yesterday in Newhall along Valle Del Oro and Alder that were above a steep canyon. In sweltering heat firefighters knocked down the blaze in just over an hour. Trying to battle traffic in 100-degree heat, the fire was contained on my arrival so I decided to take to the burnt hillside and grab some portraits of people at the fire. My favorite is a young girl trying to stay cool near the fire hydrant along Valle Del Oro.
Jeff Rankin Superintendent of fire camp 11 takes a knee for a quick break while watching his crew put in fire line.
The fire has destroyed 1,018 residences near Redding, California
(UPDATED AT 8:54 a.m. PDT August 1, 2018)
Tuesday the Carr Fire, west of Redding, California, was active on the southwest, west, and north sides, to bring the total blackened acres up to 121,000, according to a mapping flight Tuesday night.
CAL FIRE has updated the number of structures impacted by the fire. Destroyed were 1,018 residences, 12 commercial structures, and 435 outbuildings. Buildings damaged included 181 residences, 6 commercial structures and 61 outbuildings.
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire, the red line, at 11:15 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter 27 hours before. Click to enlarge.
To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Carr Fire, including the most recent, click here.
(Originally published at noon PDT July 31, 2018)
Firefighters have made a great deal of progress on the Carr Fire, resulting in no appreciable growth during the last two days within seven miles of the west edge of Redding.
On Sunday and Monday the west side of the fire saw significant expansion from the area west of Shasta Bally Road going clockwise around the west and north sides to a point 4 miles west of Shasta Lake. The fire is 3 miles east of Trinity Lake and 4 miles east of Lewiston. At a Tuesday morning briefing officials said there is “a direct threat to Lewiston”. CAL FIRE is calling it 110,154 acres.
Map showing the perimeter of the Carr Fire at 8:30 p.m. PDT July 30, 2018. The white line was the perimeter two days before. Click to enlarge.
According to the latest information, the number of structures destroyed includes 884 residences, 4 commercial structures, and 348 outbuildings. At least 2,546 remain threatened.
To see an interactive, zoomable CAL FIRE map showing the locations of destroyed and damaged structures on the Carr Fire, CLICK HERE.
The Sheriff’s office confirmed that another fatality has been found on the Carr Fire, bringing the total up to six. The latest was a 60-year old man who recently had heart surgery. Other deaths include two firefighters, and a great grandmother and two grandchildren she was caring for. Another seven people have been reported missing.
Many areas have been repopulated, but others are still under evacuation orders.
Resources assigned to the fire include 334 fire engines, 59 hand crews, 17 helicopters, 68 dozers, and 65 water tenders, for a total of 3,607 personnel.
