Fires in USA
Fires in the USA
8 May 2009
According to the latest news, the wildfire raging near Santa Barbara jumped a highway early this morning, bringing flames dangerously close to heavily populated areas and forcing the evacuation of an estimated 30,000 residents.
More than 2,300 firefighters are battling the fire, which ignited Tuesday and then roared into a blowtorch on Wednesday fuelled by hot, dry winds. It has razed or damaged 75 homes so far. Firefighters managed to contain 10 percent of the 2,739-acre blaze.
11 firefighters were injured, including three who were burned when they sheltered in a house during a firestorm.
Latest MODIS image
Residual smoke from the wildfire in Santa Barbara County, California has made its way 500-700km south into the Santa Barbara Channel. The dense smoke plume moved to the south and began to fan out southeastward, over the Santa Cruz Island as can be seen in these 4 image captions from the GOES-11 satellite taken at 2230 ~ 0030 UTC on May 5-6, 2009.
IMAGE D6140: GOES-11 <> Image Type=combine <> 5/6-7/2009 22:30-00:30 UTC.
source: www.osei.noaa.gov
Evacuation Status Map of 8 May 2009:
source: www.countyofsb.org/default.aspx
The current situation in the USA is covered by a number of detailed reports (see GFMC Media web page):
- Wildfire Jumps Key Highway, 30,000 Evacuated (published by cbs13.com, 8 May 2009)
- Wildfire prompts Schwarzenegger to alter message on firefighter cuts (published by www.mcclatchydc.com, 8 May 2009)
- Thousands flee Santa Barbara bushfires (published by www.express.co.uk, 8 May 2009)
- Santa Barbara wildfires force thousands to evacuate; mansions, humble homes destroyed (published by www.mercurynews.com, 7 May 2009)
- At least 20 structures are lost in Santa Barbara brush fire (published by latimesblogs.latimes.com, 6 May 2009)
- 1,200 homes evacuated as S. Calif. wildfire grows (published by www.google.com, 6 May 2009)
- Flames advance on Santa Barbara (published by www.usatoday.com, 6 May 2009)
- 3 homes burned, 1 injured in Arizona grass fire (published by www.kswt.com, 6 May 2009)
- Homes burning in Santa Barbara hills as fire rages out of control (published by latimesblogs.latimes.com, 6 May 2009)
- 2 Dead in San Diego Military Helicopter Crash (published by www.foxnews.com, 6 May 2009)
- State to get millions to fight wildfires (published by www.pe.com, 5 May 2009)
- Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Executive Order to Boost State’s Wildfire Preparedness and Resources (published by thepinetree.net, 5 May 2009)
