Eiler and Bald Fires in California
The Eiler wildfire which began on July 31, 2014, has almost consumed 26,000 acres. It is currently unknown as to the cause of this fire. The weather patterns currently around this fire do not bode well for a quick containment. Maximum temperatures are in the mid- to high 80's with 10-20% relative humidity. There is an unstable atmosphere at work along with thunderstorm chances which are increasingly today (08/04) through Wednesday (08/06). A Red Flag Warning in effect for dry lightning on Monday (08/04).
The Bald Fire began with a lightning strike on July 30, 2014. It is currently at 39,500 acres and is 20% contained. Fire behavior will continue to moderate with cooler, wetter weather. However, instability and winds associated with thunderstorms may negate these effects. Fire could continue to spread north, south and east. As with the Eiler fire, there is a Red Flag Warning for dry lightning at this site as well.
NASA's Aqua satellite collected this natural-color image with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS, instrument on August 02, 2014. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from inciweb.org.
Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
