As new technology emerges, the #BCWildfire Service is reminding the public to understand their best uses. Although online fire detection tools, such as MODIS, can be helpful to gather information about wildfires in your area, they can also cause a lot of confusion and anxiety.
MODIS uses satellite sensors to record the intensity of electromagnetic radiation from Earth in various spectral wavelengths or channels. This means heat signatures are picked up by the satellite and the map is populated with pixels.
The satellite can flag smoke, or large open areas such as cut blocks, as a heat signature. It will also pick up a heat signature if the ground around a fire is cooler than the fire itself, for example in the morning.
While technology like MODIS can provide a general picture, they should not be relied on for details. The BC Wildfire Service regularly maps fires when conditions and resources allow and updates are posted to the Wildfire of Note page or are available through information officers.
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