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Smoke From Colby Fire Is Visible From Space (PHOTOS)

Smoke From California Fire Is Visible From Space
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A large wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains, about 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, is generating plumes of smoke that are visible from space.

The images were captured by NASA and the National Weather Service's satellites. Here's a live animated view of the smoke from space.

The blaze, dubbed the "Colby Fire," has burned more than 1,700 acres since it started early Thursday morning. Almost 2,000 residents have received evacuation orders, and two structures have already been destroyed by the fire. Police have arrested and charged three people with recklessly starting a fire.

The powerful Santa Ana winds, coupled with California's driest recorded year in 2013, are making it more difficult for the 700 firefighters currently deployed to keep the blaze under control.

Stay updated on the fire here.

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Before You Go

Colby Fire, Jan 2014
(01 of20)
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A resident on the roof of a house talks on the phone as a wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (credit:AP)
(02 of20)
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A wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
(03 of20)
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A homeowner attempts to water down a tree on his property while a wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
US-WEATHER-FIRE(04 of20)
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Downtown Los Angeles is shrouded in a cloud of smoke from the Colby Fire, January 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving Colby Fire, originated early today in the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Glendora, about 30 miles (48 miles) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The fire is threatening homes and mandatory evacuations have been ordered. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of20)
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Smoke from the Colby fire spreads over the Pacific Ocean, seen from the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Homes burned in a wildfire threatening neighborhoods in dangerously dry foothills of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains on Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into the city below. . (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (credit:AP)
US-WEATHER-FIRE(06 of20)
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Smoke from the Colby Fire is seen in Beverly Hills, California January 16, 2014. The fast-moving Colby Fire, originated early today in the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Glendora, about 30 miles (48 miles) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The fire is threatening homes and mandatory evacuations have been ordered. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
US-WEATHER-FIRE(07 of20)
Open Image Modal
Downtown Los Angeles is shrouded in a cloud of smoke from the Colby Fire, January 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving Colby Fire, originated early today in the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Glendora, about 30 miles (48 miles) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The fire is threatening homes and mandatory evacuations have been ordered. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
US-WEATHER-FIRE(08 of20)
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Downtown Los Angeles is shrouded in a cloud of smoke from the Colby Fire, January 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving Colby Fire, originated early today in the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Glendora, about 30 miles (48 miles) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The fire is threatening homes and mandatory evacuations have been ordered. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of20)
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Firefighters work on a wildfire near the San Gabriel Mountain in Glendora, Calif., Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of this fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
Mark Davis(10 of20)
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Mark Davis gives a thumbs-up toward a helicopter as he sprays water around his property, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Azusa, Calif. A wildfire burned out of control near homes in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains early Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below, igniting trees. Evacuations were ordered for houses at the edge of the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (credit:AP)
Fred Lambertson, Mark Davis(11 of20)
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Mark Davis, center, and Fred Lambertson carry a water hose to spray water around Davis' property on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Azusa, Calif. A wildfire burned out of control near homes in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains early Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below, igniting trees. Evacuations were ordered for houses at the edge of the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (credit:AP)
(12 of20)
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A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop over homes in Glendora, Calif., as a wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Homes burned in a wildfire threatening neighborhoods in dangerously dry foothills of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains on Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into the city below. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (credit:AP)
(13 of20)
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A helicopter drops water on a fir on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Azusa, Calif. A wildfire burned out of control near homes in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains early Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below, igniting trees. Evacuations were ordered for houses at the edge of the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (credit:AP)
(14 of20)
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A structure burns inthe San Gabriel mountain brush fire in Glendora, California, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of this fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
(15 of20)
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Anxious residents watch the progress of the San Gabriel mountain wildfire in Glendora, Calif., Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. The blaze has charred at least 125 acres by the Angeles National Forest,. The wilderness area is about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
(16 of20)
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An Los Angeles County Sheriff blocks a road in a neighborhood while a wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
(17 of20)
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A fast moving wildfire makes it way up a hill towards a house in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
(18 of20)
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Family members comfort each other as they evacuate their home as firefighters battle a wildfire, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Azusa, Calif. A wildfire burned out of control near homes in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains early Thursday, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below, igniting trees. Evacuations were ordered for houses at the edge of the fire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (credit:AP)
(19 of20)
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A firefighting helicopter passes over the hills behind homes as a wildfire burns just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif., on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (credit:AP)
(20 of20)
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AP10ThingsToSee - A wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. on Thursday, Jan 16, 2014. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
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