Satellite Images Reveal Scale of Wildfires Scorching New Mexico

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global’s LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women’s health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

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Melissa Fleur Afshar

Life and Trends Reporter

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NASA satellite imagery has revealed the dramatic scale of the wildfires scorching parts of southwestern New Mexico, as two major fires—the Buck and Trout—continue to threaten homes, infrastructure and air quality.

Captured on June 14 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard Landsat 8, the satellite images offer a stark visual contrast between scorched earth and still-green terrain, showing the devastation caused by the fast-moving blazes.

False-color imagery, which combines shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible light, draws the viewers attention to the impacted areas. Actively burning areas appear bright orange in the images, while blackened ground from earlier fire activity darkens the landscape south of Lake Roberts in Grant County.

Together, the Buck and Trout fires had charred more than 80,000 acres by June 18, less than a week after they started on June 11 and 12, respectively.

Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the impact of the New Mexico wildfires.
NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison

Nasa Landsat Data New Mexico Fires — Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the impact of the New Mexico wildfires.
NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison

Windy, dry and tinder-laden conditions fueled their swift expansion in the area.

By that date, the Trout Fire had advanced nearly to the edge of Lake Roberts and was threatening communities along Sapillo Creek. Residents from approximately 2,000 homes had been placed under evacuation orders, according to local news reports.

In contrast, the Buck Fire showed slower movement and was 25 percent contained.

New Mexico’s Governor Responds

A federal emergency declaration was issued by New Mexico’s governor on June 17 in response to the Trout Fire’s rapid advance. The designation enables state agencies to request assistance from federal and other resources.

Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey showing the wildfire impact in New Mexico.
NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison

More than 875 firefighting personnel—including hotshot and hand crews, bulldozers, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft—were engaged in suppression efforts by June 18, according to InciWeb, the national incident information system.

Despite the growing perimeter, no infrastructure damage had yet been reported.

NASA’s monitoring did not stop with images. Its air pollution tracking satellite, TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution), detected plumes of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde in the smoke on June 17.

These pollutants, which can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, were measured with TEMPO’s sensors. The satellite, launched to provide hourly air quality readings over North America, measures pollution down to a resolution of just a few square miles.

NASA continues to monitor the fires and air quality, providing data to support firefighters, emergency responders, and public health officials.

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the wildfires? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.