NASA Spacecraft Spots Aftermath of Destructive Wildfire in LA Backyard

The Sand fire, in the mountains northwest of Los Angeles, has burned more than 39,000 acres, destroyed 18 houses, and caused one fatality. By August 1, 2016, when the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft acquired this image, the fire was more than 90 percent contained. The fire began 10 days earlier in a brushy area near Highway 14. It grew explosively to thousands of acres, driven by high winds and temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At one time, more than 20,000 residents were evacuated from their homes. In this image, vegetation is displayed in red, and the burn area is dark grey to black. The image covers an area of 16.4 by 19.4 miles (26.4 by 31.3 kilometers), and is located at 34.4 degrees north, 118.3 degrees west. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20723