On the Colville Indian Reservation in northeastern Washington, the Rattlesnake Canyon Fire began on July 4, 2003, of undetermined causes. This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) from the Aqua satellite on July 9, 2003, shows the active fire at the far right of the image, marked with a red dot. As of July 9 reports were that the fire was more than 10,000 acres. The fire has destroyed at least one residence and numerous outbuildings, and is threatening others. The water source for the suppression efforts is 24 miles away, adding to the firefighters’ difficulties. The smoky fire to the west is the Fawn Complex Fire. Along the Pacific Coast, a bloom of phytoplankton is coloring the water bright blue and green.
The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS’ maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters.
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Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC
