NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has narrowly escaped a devastating wildfire that threatened its physical survival during the recent Los Angeles wildfires. The center, which is responsible for some of NASA’s most ambitious missions, including Psyche and Ingenuity, was at risk due to its proximity to the fires.
The Eaton Canyon fire, which started on January 7th in nearby Altadena, expanded rapidly and posed a significant threat to JPL. However, thanks to a timely intervention by NASA, the blaze has been largely contained, and the center appears to have been spared.
NASA used its Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-3 (AVIRIS-3) aircraft to track the fire’s evolution and assess the risk it posed to JPL. The agency took precautions, including sending a B200 aircraft over the area with AVIRIS-3 to capture an image of the fire.
Fortunately, despite the close proximity of the fire to JPL, its engineers, technicians, and administrators were able to take steps to protect the center from the blaze. However, the region’s drought has raised concerns about the effectiveness of natural barriers in preventing wildfires.
The recent wildfires have highlighted the importance of disaster response and coordination for NASA. The agency has established a Disaster Response Coordination System, which uses its Earth-monitoring capabilities to support other agencies dealing with disasters on the ground. This time, however, some of JPL’s engineers and staff may face personal tragedies before being able to help others.
The devastating impact of wildfires in southern California cannot be overstated, with almost 5,000 structures destroyed in nearby towns, including some belonging to JPL employees. While JPL itself has been spared, its employees will undoubtedly deal with the fallout from these fires for some time to come.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170482/the-los-angeles-fires-got-extremely-close-to-nasas-jpl-facility