Hughes Fire, California
Fires have engulfed Southern California over the past few weeks, where another fire (i.e., the Hughes Fire) erupted just northwest of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. At the time of this blog entry (~22Z, 23 January 2025), the fire had scorched 10,000+ acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and was 24% contained. Dangerous fire conditions still persist through 24 January 2025, with red flag warnings that forecast low relative humidities and strong, gusty winds in southern California that could lead to significant fire growth or fire initiation. More coverage of the Hughes Fire can be viewed on CNN.
Geostationary satellites captured the fire initiation (~1833Z) along with the rapid growth of the Hughes Fire. Notice how the fire pixels flare up in northwestern Los Angeles County, where the fire spreads to the south and east within a ~4 hour time frame.
GOES – 18 ABI 3.9um from 1820Z-2200Z, 22 January 2025
Between 2000Z and 2140Z, three polar-orbiters observed the Hughes Fire at a higher spatial resolution of 375-m, compared to the coarser 2-km GOES ABI 3.9um. The higher spatial resolution provides finer details of the fire perimeter and the thermal hotspots (i.e., warmer brightness temperatures).
JPSS VIIRS 3.7um (I4 Band) at 2000Z, 2120Z and 2140Z on 22 January 2025
Another way to view the Hughes Fires is by the VIIRS Day Fire RGB which is sensitive to fire hotspots, smoke, along with vegetation health and burn scars. During the same time frame (i.e., 2000Z to 2140Z), this RGB observed the active fires and corresponding smoke plume that moves to the southwest. Note, the higher level clouds (i.e., located further south) shifting to the east. Like the VIIRS 3.7um, the VIIRS Day Fire RGB also exhibits a 375-m spatial resolution.
JPSS VIIRS Day Fire RGB at 2000Z, 2120Z and 2140Z on 22 January 2025