Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

GOES-13 Satellite Sees Smoke from Northern Florida's County Line Fire

Caption: Smoke from the Pinhook Swamp is still causing visibility issues in northern Florida. NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental satellite, GOES-13, captured a visible image of the smoke still streaming from northern Florida's County Line Fire, on April 10, 2012 at 1431 UTC (10:31 a.m. EDT). The image was created by NASA's GOES Project at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. North Florida Now.com reports on April 10, 2012 that smoke from the County Line Fire continues to create low visibility east, south and north of the fire. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook about the smoke on April 10: "The county line wildfire in northern Columbia County will send smoke to the southeast and south of the wildfire today. Smoke will spread into the Jacksonville area and the Gainesville area this afternoon. As winds decrease this evening visibilities may be restricted to below a mile at times tonight near the wildfire." The fire is located in the Pinhook Swamp, which extends into both Baker and Columbia counties of northern Florida. Pinhook Swamp consists of pine flatwoods and swamps. It is located between the Osceola National Forest and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Florida Division of Forestry reports that the fire, which started by a lightning strike on April 5, has now consumed 11,700 acres. The Division of Forestry noted that the fire is currently 30 percent contained and firefighting efforts continue.

Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project, Text: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Rob Gutro

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