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Satellite image from NASA Earth Observatory
Image from NASA Earth Observatory

Another round of severe wildfires began burning in Southern California on December 5, 2017.  These fires have prompted mass evacuations and consumed over 90,000 acres and 150 structures, and threated thousands of others.  Key infrastructure and densely populated areas are threatened as the Santa Ana winds continue to fuel the fast moving fires.  The NASA Disasters Program is closely monitoring these fires to determine how we may support.

Resources:

 

Basic information 

 

Portal to geographic regions and fire weather information

https://gacc.nifc.gov/

Ventura County Fire: http://vcfd.org/

 

Information about individual fires

Incident Information System: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

 

For viewing Earth, active fire and aerosol data 

This site provides an excellent view of what is happening daily: https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

[zoom to area of interest and day, add layers, Fires, Fires and Thermal Anomolies, Aqua and Terrra (VIIRS too next), click data and night, close “X” search] 

 

Active–Fire data

NASA active fire data (easy to use)

One can use these data to see the daily/hourly evolution and movement of fire hot spots. These data include ancillary information [e.g., Brightness Temperature, Fire Radiative Power (proxy for intensity)]

Available in text (ASCII) or shape files

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/earth-observation-data/near-real-time/firms

Forest Service (easy to use) – one can view or download.  These are often satellite-based data.

https://fsapps.nwcg.gov/afm/gisdata.php

https://maps.nwcg.gov/

NOAA Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product:

http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/land/hms.html

 

Burned area, severity, debris-flow modeling 

NASA Applied Sciences Wildland Fire program 

For post-fire analysis, one could use Landsat data (16-day return interval).

https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

RECOVER was designed as a Wildland Fire Decision-Support-System tool, however this system has been used for active-fire response to provide relevant data layers.  

Keith Weber would be very happy for you to use RECOVER to assist with the California wildfires.  

To request a fire web map:

  1. Send an email to Keith Weber (webekeit@isu.edu )

  2. Include a fire name (even “Fire01” will work)

  3. Include some form of map data describing the area to be included in this RECOVER web map.  Sending a shapefile works great.

We will generate the web map for you (the requestor) and send you the link ASAP.  

When time allows, you can learn more about RECOVER by visiting http://giscenter.isu.edu/research/Techpg/nasa_RECOVER/index.htm

The USGS has predictions of debris flow for many Western fires already online:

https://landslides.usgs.gov/hazards/postfire_debrisflow/

You can also request they model fires that are not already posted!

 

Rapid Response Erosion Database

Mary Ellen Miller (memiller@mtu.edu) has a database for creating hydrological modeling inputs for predicting post-fire erosion and run-off and could help you learn the modeling if you want.  

http://rred.mtri.org/rred/ 

 

ESRI ArcMap information

This map shows accidents, traffic jams, road closures and fires (updated in minutes)

http://disasterresponse.maps.arcgis.com/home/group.html?id=d70f6493d8014371b15cb8f5ecab9ffe#overview

 

Air Quality

 

Other

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/fires-in-northern-california-usa

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=91111

 

Live FMV on DAART for CA Fires 

https://daart.us/Event/Details/840#

 

Specific to Northern CA fires

https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/robinkraft/cj8nn4lvp7yoq2ro1klhjltw8.ht...