Several active fire signals in Cuba are recorded by OSEI with the NOAA AVHRR Sensor on 15 April 1999.
Heat signatures (red spots), some of which may be from fires burning in Cuba. Hot spot in western Cuba can be identified as a fire because of distinct smoke plumes extending from it in imagery.
Fig.1. NOAA image of vegetation fires in Cuba on 15
April 1999
(Source: NOAA http://www.osei.noaa.gov/)
The forest fires in Cuba which were reported by OSEI and GFMC on 13 April 1999 were contained two days later. Official Cuban media report a large pine and eucalypt forest fire in the municipality of Guane (Pinar del Rio province) which broke out on 8 April 1998. More than 2,000 firefighters, police and volunteers were supported by heavy equipment and waterbombers. The total size affected by fire is close to 8,000 ha, according to State reports. Since the fires are not yet extinguished, Cuban authorities have prepared evacuation plans for endangered housing areas.