See Animations of California Wildfires from Space
In California, summer is wildfire season, and this year has been no exception. So far the state has seen record high temperatures and numerous large brush fires. And now, thanks to developing technology, fire department officials are able to see a fire's movements from space.
One of the largest recent fires in California has been the Detwiler fire. Since it began on July 16, the blaze has burned across 80,000 acres, destroyed 63 residences, and threatened nearly 1,500 more. Thousands of people have had to evacuate their homes, more than 2,000 firefighters have been deployed, and the fire has also come perilously close to Yosemite National Park.
But now firefighters are turning to another tool to battle the blaze: