NASA scientists and engineers have been testing a new instrument, the Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST), to better understand wildfire behavior following the devastating January wildfires in California. The c-FIRST instrument was tested onboard NASA’s B200 King Air aircraft flying over wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, California, providing high-resolution thermal infrared images and data about the impacts of the fires on the terrain in near real-time.
Managed and operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, c-FIRST aims to fill gaps in understanding wildfires by capturing the full temperature range across a wide area of wildland fires, including cool, unburned areas. The instrument’s ability to provide detailed data on active fires and smoldering fires can help firefighting agencies respond more effectively and monitor fire spread in different landscapes. Additionally, c-FIRST can provide valuable information on how ecosystems may recover from fire events.
Development of c-FIRST was supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office, combining cutting-edge imaging technology with an efficient design suitable for satellite missions investigating wildfires. By testing c-FIRST onboard the B200 King Air, scientists can evaluate its readiness for future missions, ultimately aiding in firefighting efforts and ecosystemic research in a world where wildfires are increasingly common. The instrument’s ability to provide detailed and timely data could revolutionize how wildfires are monitored and understood, benefiting both scientists and firefighting agencies.
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