A massive wildfire known as the Eaton Fire swept through Southern California on January 7, forcing hundreds of homes to be evacuated and displacing over 1,000 people, including those working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The fire burned more than 14,000 acres in areas including Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre.
NASA’s Earth Observatory captured images of the fire using its Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-3) aircraft on January 11. The images show that the fire came close to hundreds more homes and businesses, including NASA’s JPL facility, which has been closed since the start of the fire.
The fire has caused significant damage, with thousands of structures destroyed by Santa Ana winds. At least 24 people have died in the fires, with the number expected to rise as rescue teams search through debris. The disaster has also had a profound impact on NASA’s operations, with employees and students displaced due to the proximity of the fire to the JPL campus.
NASA is using its satellite data to help investigate the fire’s behavior and emissions, which may have toxic effects on communities. Experts are studying the chemical composition of the ash and how it moves over time via wind and water.
Source: https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/nasa-images-eaton-fire-jpl