As Los Angeles grapples with the devastating aftermath of multiple wildfires, new aerial images captured by NASA aircraft reveal the shocking extent of the destruction.
A striking image taken on January 11th by NASA’s Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-3 (AVIRIS-3), onboard a B200 aircraft, shows the burn scar left by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The image, rendered in false color to highlight the charred areas, depicts a vast expanse of blackened land where homes and vegetation once stood.
Burned trees and buildings appear dark brown in the image, while scorched wildlands are colored orange, creating a stark visual representation of the fire’s devastating impact.
READ: Biden, Newsom’s EV Push Added Another Wrinkle To Californians’ Wildfire Evacuation Plans
The wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have claimed at least 25 lives, with the Eaton Fire accounting for 16 of those fatalities. The blazes have destroyed over 12,000 structures and forced nearly 200,000 people to evacuate their homes.
The largest and most destructive of the fires, the Palisades Fire, has burned through 23,713 acres, consuming much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. It is currently 21% contained.
The Eaton Fire, responsible for the most deaths, has burned 14,117 acres and is 45% contained.
Three other fires are also burning in the region:
- Hurst Fire: 799 acres, 98% contained.
- Auto Fire: 61 acres, 85% contained.
- Little Mountain Fire: 34 acres, 0% contained.
Firefighters continue to face challenging conditions as they battle the blazes. Strong winds, dry vegetation, and steep terrain have hampered containment efforts.
As the fires are gradually brought under control, the focus is shifting towards recovery and rebuilding. However, the scale of the destruction is immense, and the road to recovery will be long and arduous for the affected communities.
READ: Biden, Newsom’s EV Push Added Another Wrinkle To Californians’ Wildfire Evacuation Plans
These aerial images provide a sobering reminder of the devastating power of wildfires and the urgent need for preparedness and mitigation measures to protect communities from the increasing threat of such disasters.
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