ArcGIS Explorer Blog : MODIS

Explorer California Fire Map Updated

ArcGIS-Explorer-Team — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:17:00 GMT

We've just updated the Explorer California Fire Map. It can be opened from the ArcGIS Explorer Resource Center as described in our previous post. From Explorer, choose File, then Resource Center, then click the California Fires map in the lower right.

The map now includes MODIS burn perimeters as well as the USGS fire perimeters. Both services are updated regularly, and using this map Explorer will refresh both layers every 15 minutes.

Running Springs Fire from Redlands

ArcGIS-Explorer-Team — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:21:00 GMT

As of this morning the Running Springs Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest is still 0% contained. Last night it crept down over the ridge from the town of Running Springs, where many homes were lost, and it was clearly visible from ESRI and throughout Redlands. Here's a couple of photos that one of our team members took from their home yesterday evening.

Shown below is an updated Explorer map showing the fire perimeters and MODIS hot spots throughout southern California as of last night. We'll be updating this as we get updated perimeters.

2003 Fires Compared

ArcGIS-Explorer-Team — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:15:00 GMT

It was almost exactly four years ago when southern California fires reached a magnitude comparable to today's disaster. Two of the most extensive that year were the Grand Prix and Old Fires in the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests near Redlands.

Here's a screenshot showing the 2003 fire perimeters in gray and current fire perimeters in yellow. Active MODIS hot spots are shown in orange. You can see how the current fires threaten to consume areas that were spared in 2003.

Fires in Southern California

ArcGIS-Explorer-Team — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:50:00 GMT

It's all over the news; fires seem to be burning everywhere in Southern California and the air is heavy with smoke. Yesterday you could see it, smell it, and even taste it. Today, the Santa Ana winds which have been fanning the flames seem to be dying down, or at least they seemed to be doing so this morning.

Below is a screenshot showing some of the data which is being published. The MODIS hot spots (red and yellow dots) are from the Forest Service. The background image is also from the MODIS site, and you can see the smoke trails blowing across southern California and out across the Pacific Ocean. The active fire perimeters (orange polygons) and active fire points (green triangles) are from the GeoMAC site.

The image below shows one of the fires closest to Redlands, up in the local mountains near the town of Lake Arrowhead. The red polygon is the burned area, and the yellow outlines show the fire perimeter at various times. The note links to a local TV station broadcasting live and recorded video of the fires there. The fires have spread and are now burning around the town of Running Springs.

The Canyon Fire was one of the first to hit the news. Shown below is the fire perimeter along with a note that links to online photos.

We also found a KMZ created by the California Office of Emergency Services, and here it is shown on top of the topographic map layer from the ArcGIS Explorer Resource Center.