Fires in East Africa

 Fires inCentral and East Africa

25 July 2005

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Latest satellite scenes from fires burning in Central and Eastern Africa:

Fires were burning across central Africa south of Lake Victoria and aroundLake Tanganyika on 24 July 2005. The following images were captured by the ModerateResolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Actively burning firesare marked in red.

TERRA
24 July 2005
8:25 hrs UTC
(Image courtesy MODIS)

click on scene for a 500m resolution

AQUA
24 July 2005
12:50 hrs UTC
(Image courtesy MODIS)

click on scene for a 500m resolution

The widespread nature of the fires and the time of year indicates that thesefires are being set intentionally for agricultural purposes. Though notnecessarily immediately hazardous, such large-scale burning—and the resultingsmoke—can have a strong impact on weather, climate, human health, and naturalresources.

ECPC Africa Fire Weather Index map:

Fire Weather Index (FWI) forecast for 26 July
(Source: ECPC Fire Weather Index Forecast)

Fire Weather Index (FWI) forecast for the next week
(Source: ECPC Fire Weather Index Forecast)

For further information see also:

• Country archive East Africa

• Regional Wildland Fire Networks (AfriFireNet)

• The South African Working on Fire Programme

• IFFN Country Reports on Central African countries

• Recent Africa Updates

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