In early June 2024, the Corral Fire quickly spread to grasslands near Tracy, California, fueled by high winds and dry conditions. The fire, which broke out near the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, ultimately covered more than 14,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire in California for the year. Credit: Issues.fr.com
High winds and lots of fuel helped spread the flames across 14,000 acres of grasslands in California’s San Joaquin County.
In early June 2024, fires caused by the Corral Fire quickly spread across grasslands near Tracy, California. Powered by high winds, the flames spread across 14,000 acres, making it the state’s largest wildfire so far this year.
The fire broke out June 1 near Site 300 of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 8 miles southwest of Tracy. Dry grass and wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour made the fire difficult to contain, according to Cal Fire. The fire spread east, charring more than 12,000 acres by the morning of June 2.
Satellite image near Tracy, California, taken May 17, 2024, before the Corral Fire.
Satellite image near Tracy, California, taken June 2, 2024, after the Corral Fire.
Satellite image analysis
Landsat 9’s OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) captured this image (bottom) of the blackened hillside on June 2. For comparison, the top image shows the same area on May 17.
“The fire broke out on the leeward side of Altamont Pass, a gap in the Diablo Range, where winds are notoriously strong,” said Jessica McCarty, head of the biosphere sciences department at the University of Ottawa. NASAAmes Research Center. “June 1 was particularly windy and the leeward side of the pass is also drier, which fuels the fire. »
Although 2023 was a relatively quiet year for California wildfires, it’s unclear how 2024 will fare. Two years of relatively wet springs allowed vegetation to develop in the area, said Matthew Johnson, a research scientist in Ames. Johnson and McCarty are both East Bay area residents. “Once the vegetation dries, it increases the risk of fire,” Johnson added.
Fire containment and changing weather conditions
The Corral fire was 94% contained as of the morning of June 5. But a ridge of high pressure brought high temperatures that day to California and much of the southwestern United States, which can increase the fire risk and make it dangerous for wildland firefighters in the region. McCarty said. Tracy, California, was under an excessive heat warning, with forecasters predicting a high of 103 degrees. Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
McCarty and his Ames colleagues are partnering with California State University, Stanislaus to offer the Fire & Air program, an internship allowing undergraduate students to work with NASA scientists and CSU Stanislaus faculty to study impacts on air quality and causes of forest fires.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the US Geological Survey.
