4 ms·

Hmm, this (or a previous) fire is already visible in the Google Maps satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sulaibiya,+Kuwait/@29.2573457,47.6764983

by tpmx 5y ago

Hmm, this (or a previous) fire is already visible in the Google Maps satellite view. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sulaibiya,+Kuwait/@29.2573457,47.6764983,1350m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x3fcf92708a4cfae9:0x4b72a44a48f05d7a!8m2!3d29.2855773!4d47.818038 https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sulaibiya,+Kuwait/@29.2573... However, the tire pile arrangements look different than in the photo in the article...

sidewndr46 5y ago
Hmm, that is enormous. At least it looks like just one pile is burning at present. My understanding is whenever Iraq lit the oil wells on fire they just pumped up seawater to help with extinguishing the blaze. I wonder if that sort of thing could work here? Basically just flood the area with seawater.
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  USSR nuked a gas well - an inferno was raging for 3 years and nothing elae could stop it. "On that cold autumn day in 1966, an underground tremor of unprecedented force shook the [ground] with a sparse grass cover on white sand. A dusty haze rose over the desert. The orange colored torch of the blazing well diminished, first slowly, then more rapidly, until it flickered and finally died out. For the first time in 1,064 days, quiet descended on the area. The jet-like roar of the gas well had been silenced"
  - sidewndr46 5y ago
    Actually they did that around six or so times from what I understand. All those were underground, so it probably is a net win for environment.
- capitainenemo 5y ago
  Maybe I'm misinterpreting the photo, but I saw the path as a firebreak, like they were using the vehicles to separate the burning tires from the rest of them.
- mistrial9 5y ago
  my guess is that the problem is the assignment of responsibility and the requirement to pay for cleanup - the technology is available and already nearby
  - sidewndr46 5y ago
    Unfortunately, that's usually the case.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
lisper 5y ago
Interesting that this satellite imagery is so recent. I tried panning over to the Dixie fire in California, which has been burning for a month, and it still shows unburned forest. So maybe what is showing up on Google is a different, earlier fire?
- tpmx 5y ago
  Yeah, this article seems to mix up a few things. There have been previous fires at this site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaibiya#Tire_graveyard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaibiya#Tire_graveyard
- zokier 5y ago
  Bit of sleuthing shows that the photo is claimed to be taken on "April 29, 2021" http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/29/c_139915543.htm http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/29/c_139915543.htm Meanwhile Getty has the satellite picture dated as "April 15, 2021" https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/maxar-closeup-satellite-imagery-of-the-tire-fire-burning-at-news-photo/1234462148 https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/maxar-closeup-... So they are likely showing same event, Maxar is pretty good at getting images of current events as they happen. Don't know what sort of deal they have with Google to show them on Maps though.
ilamont 5y ago
the tire pile arrangements look different than in the photo in the article Is it possible they have moved some of the tires out of the way to create a fire break?
this_was_posted 5y ago
I wonder what impact the chemicals in the smoke have on the water treatment plant that is visible nearby

by tpmx 5y ago

sidewndr46 5y ago

Hmm, that is enormous. At least it looks like just one pile is burning at present. My understanding is whenever Iraq lit the oil wells on fire they just pumped up seawater to help with extinguishing the blaze. I wonder if that sort of thing could work here? Basically just flood the area with seawater.

ClumsyPilot 5y ago
USSR nuked a gas well - an inferno was raging for 3 years and nothing elae could stop it. "On that cold autumn day in 1966, an underground tremor of unprecedented force shook the [ground] with a sparse grass cover on white sand. A dusty haze rose over the desert. The orange colored torch of the blazing well diminished, first slowly, then more rapidly, until it flickered and finally died out. For the first time in 1,064 days, quiet descended on the area. The jet-like roar of the gas well had been silenced"
- sidewndr46 5y ago
  Actually they did that around six or so times from what I understand. All those were underground, so it probably is a net win for environment.
capitainenemo 5y ago
Maybe I'm misinterpreting the photo, but I saw the path as a firebreak, like they were using the vehicles to separate the burning tires from the rest of them.
mistrial9 5y ago
my guess is that the problem is the assignment of responsibility and the requirement to pay for cleanup - the technology is available and already nearby
- sidewndr46 5y ago
  Unfortunately, that's usually the case.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

lisper 5y ago

Interesting that this satellite imagery is so recent. I tried panning over to the Dixie fire in California, which has been burning for a month, and it still shows unburned forest. So maybe what is showing up on Google is a different, earlier fire?

tpmx 5y ago
Yeah, this article seems to mix up a few things. There have been previous fires at this site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaibiya#Tire_graveyard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaibiya#Tire_graveyard
zokier 5y ago
Bit of sleuthing shows that the photo is claimed to be taken on "April 29, 2021" http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/29/c_139915543.htm http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/29/c_139915543.htm Meanwhile Getty has the satellite picture dated as "April 15, 2021" https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/maxar-closeup-satellite-imagery-of-the-tire-fire-burning-at-news-photo/1234462148 https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/maxar-closeup-... So they are likely showing same event, Maxar is pretty good at getting images of current events as they happen. Don't know what sort of deal they have with Google to show them on Maps though.

ilamont 5y ago

the tire pile arrangements look different than in the photo in the article Is it possible they have moved some of the tires out of the way to create a fire break?

this_was_posted 5y ago

I wonder what impact the chemicals in the smoke have on the water treatment plant that is visible nearby