NASA FIRMS Fire Map

What NASA FIRMS Fire Map actually is

The Fire Information for Resource Management System plots thermal anomalies picked up by the MODIS and VIIRS instruments, usually within three hours of the satellite passing overhead. Detections can be filtered by confidence and replayed over the past week to follow a fire front.

Why it is worth your time

Agricultural burning season across the Sahel or the Punjab arrives as a solid band of detections thousands of kilometres long, which no news bulletin ever conveys.

Common questions

Is NASA FIRMS Fire Map free?

Yes. NASA FIRMS Fire Map is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does NASA FIRMS Fire Map take?

One quick round, then you can leave. We file it under "A minute" — every active fire the satellites spotted in the last day.

Does NASA FIRMS Fire Map work on a phone?

NASA FIRMS Fire Map really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is NASA FIRMS Fire Map?

We list it under The Live Planet — what earth is doing, right this second. Agricultural burning season across the Sahel or the Punjab arrives as a solid band of detections thousands of kilometres long, which no news bulletin ever conveys.