Image: Fires in Texas and Oklahoma As Seen From Space
Thousands of acres in Texas and Oklahoma are up in flames from wildfires this week. From August 29 to September 4, 2011, local fire departments in Texas have fought 127 fires and the Texas Forest Service has battled 178 fires, saving thousands of homes and structures, according to the U.S. Forest Service Incident Information System.
The Ferguson fire is raging in southern Oklahoma and covers 34,838 acres. The Ferguson fire has already destroyed 11 residences and threatens 114 more residences. One of the fires in eastern Texas called the Kennedy Road Fire began on September 4 and measures 150 acres. It seems to be emanating smoke in the east. In southern Texas the Union Chapel, Bastrop County Complex, Delhi, Lutherhill and Bailey wildfires together produced the most smoke in this image.
Texas is under siege with several huge fires and it was not helped by a nearby tropical storm. Tropical Storm Lee created winds that fanned the flames of Texas fires over the weekend, as the center of the storm stayed just far enough east of Texas to not bring any rainfall. It did, however, produce gusty winds that helped spread wildfires in Texas.
NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Melissa Quijada. Images
