ARCHEOLOGY

Satellite imagery provides a stunning view of the Los Angeles wildfires from space

January, 10, 2025-05:28

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Satellite imagery provides a stunning view of the Los Angeles wildfires from space

As the wildfires in Los Angeles persist, satellite imagery has unveiled the alarming speed at which these fires have escalated. On January 7, extreme drought conditions combined with winds reaching 100 miles per hour ignited wildfires in the affluent suburb of Palisades. Since that time, the fires have claimed the lives of at least five individuals, obliterated thousands of residences, and necessitated the evacuation of over 130,000 residents. Photographs captured by a network of satellites in orbit illustrate the rapid expansion of the fires, which have engulfed more than 27,000 acres within a mere three days. As the flames ignited on Tuesday, the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite detected the initial smoke plumes drifting over the Pacific Ocean.

Subsequent images taken just hours later by NASA’s Aqua satellite revealed that the fire had already encroached upon the intricate streets of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Additionally, timelapse footage from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) demonstrates how the fierce Santa Ana winds propelled the fires to spread swiftly throughout the city. In a statement on X, CIRA noted: "The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire continue their rapid growth near Los Angeles, having scorched over 10,000 acres." On January 7, NASA obtained an image of the Palisades fire in the afternoon, by which time the blaze had expanded significantly, generating a substantial plume of smoke.

The fire ignited on Tuesday morning, and the initial satellite images were taken by 10:45 AM local time. The satellite imagery distinctly illustrates the fire's origin as a forest fire in a wooded area located just west of Santa Monica. By the time NASA captured the image later that day, the fire had spiraled out of control, ultimately burning over 11,000 hectares by the afternoon of January 8. Additional satellite images reveal the rapid emergence of multiple fires throughout the city. A timelapse provided by CIRA depicts the emergence of a second wildfire in the Eaton neighborhood to the north.
In the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, the Eaton Fire devastated another 10,600 acres, destroyed approximately 1,000 structures, and resulted in at least five fatalities, according to officials. Overnight, two new fires ignited in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, prompting a mandatory evacuation order in the area known for its celebrity residents. The National Guard has been activated and may deploy military personnel to assist, as firefighters are reportedly 'triaging' homes and neighborhoods.