Thousands of residents and tourists were forced to evacuate from Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, as powerful wildfires swept through the southern part of the community on Wednesday evening (July 24), causing significant losses in the area.

These fires, which began on Monday (July 22) following a previous fire in Western Canada on May 10, have been a cause of concern for firefighters, weather forecasters, and community leaders. To aid in monitoring their spread, satellites from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s GOES-R series have been working tirelessly to track hotspots and smoke plumes.

The satellites, equipped with the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument, use different spectral bands to detect smoke signals and identify hotspots during a wildfire. This valuable data, combined with ground observations from officials and firefighters, allows for a more accurate understanding of each fire's growth and potential movement.

Furthermore, with the help of satellite images, even wildfire and smoke forecasts can be significantly improved. This crucial information provides valuable lead time for both firefighting efforts and community evacuations, especially in situations where shifting winds or ember sparks can cause a fast-moving blaze to take an unexpected turn or trigger new fires.

The heightened ability to monitor fires and smoke movement has been vital in Western Canada, where a previous fire in British Columbia expanded rapidly, consuming more than 13,000 acres of land in just three days. The specter of such devastating wildfires necessitates constant vigilance and efficient communication among firefighting teams and local communities.

As the wildfires continue to ravage Western Canada, it is clear that the GOES-R series satellites and their Advanced Baseline Imager instrument are indispensable tools in managing and responding to these natural disasters. Through their real-time monitoring and accurate forecasting capabilities, these satellites provide critical information that aids in protecting lives, property, and the environment.