The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite detected three large fires burning in eastern Florida on February 28, 2011. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, all three wildfires burned out of control and threatened homes.
The largest of the fires is the Iron Horse Fire, burning in northern Brevard County. The 10,000-acre fire produced dense clouds of smoke that forced officials to close parts of US Highway 1 and Interstate 95, said news reports. As of March 1, the fire had destroyed one home and was burning towards more densely populated areas, reported CNN.
In the north, the Keller Fire also closed roads, including Highway 1 and Interstate 95. The smaller Ferry-7 fire burned primarily in National Forests.
References & Resources
- Balona, P.G., Johnson, M.I., and Pulver, D.V. (2011, March 1) Surging wildfires close major roads in Volusia, Flagler. The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Accessed March 1, 2011.
- CNN. (2011, March 1). Rains to slow Florida wildfire, but homes still at risk. Accessed March 1, 2011.
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (2011, March 1). Active wildfires State of Florida. Accessed March 1, 2011.
- National Interagency Fire Center. (2011, March 1). Incident management situation report. Accessed March 1, 2011.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center. (2011, March 1). Current large incidents. Accessed March 1, 2011.
NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Holli Riebeek.
