How to read the wildfire map
Small red and orange dots are thermal anomalies: spots where the VIIRS instrument on NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite detected unusual heat during its passes that day. Most are wildfires, but some are farm burning, prescribed burns, volcanoes or gas flares. Larger red circles mark wildfire events that NASA’s EONET service is tracking, often reported by national fire agencies. Choose a date to see detections from earlier days.
Why satellites are used for fires
Satellites see the whole planet at least twice a day, including remote forests far from any road or town. VIIRS can detect fires as small as a few hundred square metres at night. Firefighters, scientists and governments use this data to spot new fires, track smoke and plan resources. Each dot is roughly 375 m across, so it shows that a fire is burning in that area, not the exact edge of the flames.
Safety first
This map is for information only and may lag behind conditions on the ground by several hours. If you live near a wildfire, follow evacuation orders and updates from your local fire service and emergency management agency. In Canada, check provincial wildfire services; in the US, check InciWeb and your state agency; in Australia, check your state fire service app.
Frequently asked questions
How current are the fire detections?
Usually within a few hours of the satellite passing over. Today’s map fills in during the day.
Are all dots wildfires?
No. Some are farm burning, industrial heat or volcanoes. Check local sources for confirmed wildfires.
Can I see smoke?
Use our Live Earth From Space tool, which shows true-colour satellite images where smoke plumes are often visible.
More live Earth & Space tools
Data and credits: Fire detections: NASA GIBS, VIIRS thermal anomalies from NASA FIRMS (public domain). Wildfire events: NASA EONET (public domain). Labels © OpenStreetMap contributors. Leaflet. See all Live Earth & Space tools and our credits page.