Developed at NASA JPL, the science instrument gives researchers a more detailed picture of high-temperature surfaces, such as land scorched by wildfire, than previous infrared instruments.
Wildfires are increasingly touching more diverse communities as fires grow in intensity and extend into urban areas, according to researchers.
On the morning of Jan. 7, just days into the new year, the Palisades Fire erupted and ravaged the Los Angeles County coast from Malibu to Santa Monica. Within 24 hours, two more fires —  Eaton and Hughes — ignited.
Losses in the state are expected to exceed $250 billion. A leading scholar in insurance law says the question isn’t if someone will pay, but who.