NASA has released an image captured on 16 November by its Aqua satellite, showing the extent of the California wildfires which, the BBC estimates, had by yesterday destroyed a total of 800 homes and razed roughly 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares):

NASA explains: "This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ... shows the Los Angeles metropolitan area on November 16, 2008. Places where the sensor detected active fires are outlined in red. The top image shows smoke spreading far to the west over the Pacific Ocean."

When Aqua pictured the drama on Sunday, the National Interagency Fire Center daily situation report noted "the Sayre Fire north of San Fernando was 8,000 acres and 20 per cent contained", while "the Freeway Fire was 5,800 acres and 5 per cent contained.

NASA has the photo at other resolutions here. ®

Related story

• NASA sats snap California wildfires (24 October 2007)