Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires billowing into the Pacific Ocean and traveling as far south as Mexico on Friday, Oct. 13.
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires billowing into the Pacific Ocean and traveling as far south as Mexico on Friday, Oct. 13.
Photo: NASA
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires billowing into the Pacific Ocean and traveling as far south as Mexico on Friday, Oct. 13.
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires billowing into the Pacific Ocean and traveling as far south as Mexico on Friday, Oct. 13.
Photo: NASA
Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Smoldering fires are seen in the remains of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle
The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle
The remains of the Journey’s End mobile home park are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
The remains of the Journey’s End mobile home park are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle
The remains of the Journey’s End mobile home park are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
The remains of the Journey’s End mobile home park are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle
The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
The remains of the homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood are seen from the air in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
Photo: Elijah Nouvelage, Special To The Chronicle
A home is seen destroyed by the Atlas fire near Monticello Road in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
A home is seen destroyed by the Atlas fire near Monticello Road in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Columns of smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Columns of smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
This image provided by the California Highway Patrol shows destruction in Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park neighborhood on Monday, October 9, 2017.
This image provided by the California Highway Patrol shows destruction in Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park neighborhood on Monday, October 9, 2017.
Photo: CHP
The Atlas Fire burns through vegetation in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
The Atlas Fire burns through vegetation in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
The Atlas fire burns near a structure in the hills East of downtown Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
The Atlas fire burns near a structure in the hills East of downtown Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
The Atlas fire burns near a road in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
The Atlas fire burns near a road in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
The Atlas fire burns near power lines in the hills East of downtown Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
The Atlas fire burns near power lines in the hills East of downtown Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rises as a wildfire burns in the hills north east of Napa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to safety through smoke and flames as homes burned. (Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Smoke rises as a wildfire burns in the hills north east of Napa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through Northern California sending residents on a headlong flight to
Photo: Michael Short/Associated Press
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise near a vineyard as the Atlas Fire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise near a vineyard as the Atlas Fire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns near vineyards in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns near vineyards in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
A home is seen destroyed by the Atlas fire near Monticello Road in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
A home is seen destroyed by the Atlas fire near Monticello Road in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
The Atlas fire burns near an unfinished home in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
The Atlas fire burns near an unfinished home in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise near a vineyard as the Atlas Fire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise near a vineyard as the Atlas Fire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Smoke rise from the Atlas Fire as it burns in the hills East of Napa, Calif., on Monday, October, 9, 2017.
Photo: Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Photo: NASA
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Aerial photos show smoke from the Wine Country fires on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Photo: NASA
Wind carried smoke from the Wine Country fires as far as Mexico, over 550 miles south of the North Bay.
NASA’s MODIS satellite passed over California on Friday, and the images it captured show a thick line of smoke projected from Santa Rosa out into the Pacific Ocean, parallel to the northern edge of Mexico. The hazy trail measures over 550 feet long.
It can be challenging to put the devastation of the Wine Country fires into perspective, but when viewed from such great heights, one’s cognitive distance quickly shrinks.
The stamp of the fires over the Pacific hints at the devastation wrought upon Northern California, where thousands of acres of homes, businesses and farmland have been reduced to ash amid multiple fires burning since Oct. 8.
Even those outside the line of fire have felt the wrath of the ash-laden smoke, which poured into cities across the Bay Area at the whim of the wind.
Since Monday, the poor air quality in the region led to cancelled events, shuttered schools and surreal scenes of masked city dwellers wading beneath the shadow of a fuzzy pink sky.
Read Michelle Robertson’s latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
