Smoke from Arizona wildfire brings hazy conditions to the Colorado Front Range

Satellite imagery shows smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona entering Colorado. Click the image for a larger view.
Satellite imagery shows smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona entering Colorado. Click the image for a larger view.

Recent days have brought hazy conditions to the Denver area and all along the Colorado Front Range.  At times residents have even smelled smoke and the culprit lies hundreds of miles to our south.

Two fires burning near Trinidad as well as one in southern New Mexico were attributed to the hazy conditions early last week.  Now a massive fire in eastern Arizona is sending smoke our way and causing the horizon to be obscured

The fire burning 250 miles northeast of Phoenix has been dubbed the Wallow Fire and is burning through lush but dry forest.  At latest estimates the blaze has scorched 144,000 acres making it the third largest blaze in Arizona’s history.

More than 1,300 firefighters from across the nation are on the scene and battling the blaze.  Zero containment has been established but firefighters have made progress in recent days slowing its advance.

The images to the top right and below were taken by NASA and NOAA satellites and clearly show the smoke from the blaze.

In this image from NASA, the smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona as well as others further to the south and in Mexico is seen.
In this image from NASA, the smoke from the Wallow Fire in Arizona as well as others further to the south and in Mexico is seen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *