Fires in Arizona and New Mexico (morning overpass) Jacques
Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC Gusty winds,
steep and rocky terrain, low humidity, and water shortages are
slowing the progress of firefighters as they work to contain the
Aspen Fire northeast of Tucson, Arizona (red dots southwest of
image center). The fire has burned hundreds of homes and other
structures in communities on Mt. Lemmon. After beginning on June
17 of unknown causes, the fire had already grown to more than
11,000 acres by Monday, June 23. This image from the Moderate
Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra
satellite on June 22, 2003, shows the Aspen Fire northeast of
Tucson and farther north, the Picture Fire northeast of Phoenix.
Fires are also burning in New Mexico (right) and Mexico
(bottom). All active fire locations are marked in red.