Wildfires
Right now
The most recent data we hold from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) arrived 6 minutes ago, and this point is not in it. We record detections, not passes: an absence is not proof that nothing is there.
2 other detections within 20 km in the last 24 hours, the nearest 1 km from here.
Recorded by satellite today.
A thermal anomaly is a snapshot of one satellite pass, not a record of a fire’s life: we cannot say whether it kept burning after that pass.
It is the 12th strongest of the 98 detections recorded within 20 km of this point since 13 July 2026. The last comparable one was on 20 September 2026. 33 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) reported 102 fire pixels with a combined fire radiative power of 1727 MW, at high confidence, 575 km from Palmerston.
The 102 pixels cover about 14.3 km² — that is the footprint of the detection grid at 375 m resolution, not an estimate of how much land burned.
FIRMS does not report burned area, and neither do we.
Wind from ENE at 26 km/h at 07:00 UTC, according to MET Norway.
This is the highest radiative power we have recorded at this point, over 266 readings since 21 September 2026 — the previous range was 861 MW to 1,727 MW.
Nearby, since 13 July 2026
- September 22, 2026 · score 36 · 1.2 km
- September 22, 2026 · score 27 · 2.5 km
- August 12, 2026 · score 27 · 8.0 km
How we know
One source: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS). Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 43 out of 100.
This is our versioned heuristic index, not source severity or a calibrated probability. Urban PEI does not count unique people.
Wind: MET Norway Locationforecast, CC BY 4.0.
Computed under scoring rules v5. Rows carrying other versions were judged by different rules and are not directly comparable.
Event Data
| Type | Wildfires |
| Severity | High |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 43 / 100 |
| Legacy data-support index | 0.54/1 |
| Coordinates | -12.1277, 136.2616 |
| Nearest City | Palmerston (575 km) |
| Urban exposure index (PEI) | 0 within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | minor |
| Timestamp | 2026-09-21T16:11:00.000Z |
| Source | https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@136.262,-12.128,9z |
Physical priority index · v5. Heuristic priority, not calibrated probability, predictive accuracy or damage. The legacy data-support index combines assigned source support and field availability. Urban PEI is distance-weighted and does not count unique people; zero does not establish that nobody is present. Model cards.
Source and revision timeline
Source: firms. Occurrence: 2026-09-21T16:11:00.000Z.
First archived: 2026-09-21T00:04:33.249Z. Material modification: 2026-09-21T18:47:22.661Z.
Retained revisions are prospective; earlier versions may be unavailable. No revision entry does not prove that a record never changed.
2026-09-21T18:47:22.661Z · data_change
Index 43 → 43; severity high → high; version 5 → 5.
2026-09-21T17:42:22.343Z · data_change
Index 36 → 43; severity high → high; version 5 → 5.
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Brightness | 367 |
| Frp | 1726.94 |
| PixelCount | 102 |
| Confidence | high |
Safety Information
If a wildfire is approaching: follow evacuation orders immediately. Do not wait to see the fire. Close all windows and doors, remove combustible materials from around your home, and have an emergency go-bag ready. Air quality can deteriorate rapidly even at distance from the fire front — monitor local air quality advisories.
Series begins 8 March 2026. Comparisons refer to that period only. Collection gap: 14-26 August 2026.
This data is aggregated algorithmically from scientific sources. Not a replacement for official emergency warnings.
Review the area, threshold and delivery channel in your account.
Want to know when something happens in this area?