Fires in USA
Fires in the USA
11 May 2009
According to the latest news, the wildfire near Santa Barbara has destroyed at least 80 homes and scorched 3,500 hectares since the fire broke out Tuesday. It has damaged 22 others, cost $9 million to fight, injured 28 firefighters and forced the evacuation of approximately 30,000 people to safer ground.
By early Monday, only about 370 people remained evacuated from 145 homes.
The 13-square-mile blaze was 65 percent surrounded early Monday after several days of cool, calm weather. Gusty winds that caused it to explode last week could return Tuesday but not as fiercely.
Officials said Sunday the blaze was apparently was caused by someone using a power tool to clear brush last Tuesday on private land near the Jesusita Trail and sought public help in identifying the culprit.
Lates MODIS image
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite captured this image on 8 May 2009
(source: MODIS)
The large image provided above is at MODIS maximum spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel.
Official Fire Information
Information on the Jesusita Fire is also provided by the county of Santa Barbara: Official Information as of: 5/10/2009 11:48:40 PM
The current situation in the USA is covered by a number of detailed reports (see GFMC Media web page):
- Safety Measure Caused California Wildfire, Investigators Say (published by www.foxnews.com, 11 May 2009)
- Thousands return home as firefighters attack California blaze (published by www.abc.net.au, 10 May 2009)
- Cooler weather helps tame California blaze (published by www.jconline.com, 10 May 2009)
- Paperwork tripped up air crew in Calif. fire fight (published by www.sfgate.com, 9 May 2009)
- In the fire zone, ‘everybody’s affected now’ (published by www.latimes.com, 9 May 2009)
- Evacuees fill shelters; crave news of their homes (published by www.venturacountystar.com, 8 May 2009)
- Feds funnel $12.3 million to Colo. forest-fire reduction (published by www.denverpost.com, 8 May 2009)
- 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)
- Big Air Tanker Joins Fight In Massive Wildfire (published by cbs13.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)
