May 06, 2016

The Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta, Canada, continues to burn, and the smoke and heat from the intense fires are detectable by satellite. The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite carries an instrument so sensitive to low light levels that it can detect wildfires in the middle of the night, as well as during the daytime. It captured day and night images of the fire.
On May 6, 2016, all of Fort McMurray is under a mandatory evacuation order. The Fort McMurray International Airport remains open at this time.

Suomi NPP's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument captured a look at the fire and the smoke generated by the fire during the daytime on May 5, 2016 at 3:45 p.m. EDT (19:45 UTC). In the image the hotspots indicate the location of the fires. The smoke was blowing to the south-southeast of the fires in Fort McMurray. Suomi NPP is a joint mission of NASA, NOAA and the Department of Defense.
On May 6, 2016 at 5:56 a.m. EDT (09:56 UTC), the VIIRS instrument on Suomi NPP acquired a nighttime image of the Fort McMurray wildfire by using its “day-night band” to sense the fire in the visible portion of the spectrum. In the image, the brightest parts of the fire appear white while smoke appears light gray.

According to the Alberta Department of Agriculture and Forestry (ADAF) on May 6, the following communities are under an evacuation order: Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estate and Fort McMurray First Nation. The high level evacuation order has been lifted (at 2 p.m. EDT on May 5). For more details, visit the ADAF page:http://wildfire.alberta.ca/.

Alberta's Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) reported on May 5 at 11:20 p.m. EDT, that the Anzac/Gregoire Lake Estates and the Stone Creek Area remains an active fire zone. Birchwood Trails remains a priority from a strategic firefighting standpoint, and crews are working hard to protect this area. RMWB noted that gusting winds have been extremely challenging for fire crews, and properties near green areas remain an issue due to sparks and high winds creating spot fires among housing. A plan is being developed for northern evacuees. For updates from RMWB, visit: http://asset.rmwb.ca/wildfire/

The Government of Alberta Transportation noted on May 6 that due to heavy smoke and fire, motorists are being asked not to travel to Fort McMurray on either Highway 63 or Highway 881. Highway 881 is closed to through traffic at Anzac, until further notice. For information about state of emergency, evacuation and reception centers, fuel locations, financial assistance, pets, boil water advisories, and social support services, visit:http://www.alberta.ca/emergency.cfm.

On May 6, Alberta Emergency Alert posted that in Mackenzie County, the evacuation order will be lifted as of 2 p.m. EDT for residents living in Township 109 Range 19 west of 5 between township roads 1090 and 1094 and east to the Bushe River, as well as for residents in 17, 18, 19, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 Township 108 Range 18 west 5. Residents are to remain on immediate alert in case the situation changes due to weather changes. For emergency information: http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca/.

The Suomi NPP satellite is the first satellite mission to address the challenge of acquiring a wide range of land, ocean, and atmospheric measurements for Earth system science while simultaneously preparing to address operational requirements for weather forecasting. Suomi NPP also represents the gateway to the creation of a U.S. climate monitoring system, collecting both climate and operational weather data and continuing key data records that are critical for global change science.

Image:
(Fig. 1) This daytime view of the Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta, Canada, was captured by the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA-DOD's Suomi NPP satellite on May 5, 2016 at 3:45 p.m. EDT (19:45 UTC). Hotspots indicating fires are outlined in red. Smoke appears light brown and was blowing to the southeast.

(Fig. 2) This nighttime infrared view of the Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta Canada was captured by the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite on May 6, 2016 at 5:37 a.m. EDT (0937 UTC). The brightest parts of the fire appear white while smoke appears light gray.