Red Flag Warnings Get a Boost from NASA Satellite Imagery
Red Flag Warnings are used to alert people whenever hot temperatures, low humidity and high winds conspire to create a higher-than-average wildfire risk. There are a variety of tools that emergency managers can utilize when monitoring for Red Flag conditions, not the least of which is NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), which relies on satellite observations.
How FIRMS Helps Facilitate Red Flag Warnings
FIRMS was created 10 years ago by researchers at the University of Maryland, financed by NASA and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
The system collects observational data from 2 remote satellite-based sensor devices called the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The collected information is then delivered in near real-time (within 3 hours) to decision makers via email, online maps showing fires and hotspots, and similar tools. The decision-makers in turn decide if the data warrants a Red Flag Warning.
The only real limitation of the technology is that the satellite imagery can sometimes appear distorted or be misleading due to anomalies caused by industry, agriculture, controlled burns, or unstable weather, among other things. That said, the system adds tremendous value, especially out west, by providing a greater head start when wildfire activity is likely to become more than just a threat.
Obviously, this is incredible technology and definitely provides a boost from an emergency preparedness perspective. While most of the FIRMS users are government or municipal officials, the system is something that can help utilities too. For example, an earlier warning of an impending fire would provide more time to activate the IMT, queue up restoration crews, and request mutual assistance if necessary.
The bottom line is that the FIRMS satellite monitoring system is a strong step forward in the ongoing effort to improve safety and preparedness. Whether it’s issuing Red Flag Warnings or giving local electric utilities slightly more time to react to an emerging threat, the system can only help.
