Right now
The most recent data we hold from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) arrived 16 minutes ago, and this point is not in it. We record detections, not passes: an absence is not proof that nothing is there.
3 other detections within 20 km in the last 24 hours, the nearest 13 km from here.
Recorded by satellite yesterday.
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 14th strongest of the 35 detections recorded within 20 km of this point since 30 May 2026. The last comparable one was on 13 September 2026. 19 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) reported 52 fire pixels with a combined fire radiative power of 911 MW, at nominal confidence, 39 km from Lumbala.
The 52 pixels cover about 7.3 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.
Urban PEI: 4,350 within a heuristic 50 km radius; not unique people.
Wind from WSW at 6 km/h at 01:00 UTC, according to MET Norway.
This is the highest radiative power we have recorded at this point, over 67 readings since 14 September 2026 — the previous range was 910 MW to 911 MW.
Nearby, since 30 May 2026
- September 14, 2026 · score 50 · 15.1 km
- September 9, 2026 · score 58 · 18.9 km
- August 28, 2026 · score 62 · 23.0 km
How we know
One source: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS). Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 44 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 | Critical |
| Calamity Score (ours) | 44 / 100 |
| Legacy data-support index | 0.74/1 |
| Coordinates | -13.8165, 21.6456 |
| Nearest City | Lumbala (39 km) |
| Urban exposure index (PEI) | 4.3K within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | minor |
| Timestamp | 2026-09-14T00:35:00.000Z |
| Source | https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@21.646,-13.816,9z |
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: 2026-09-14T00:35:00.000Z.
First archived: 2026-09-14T00:02:20.530Z. Material modification: not recorded.
Retained revisions are prospective; earlier versions may be unavailable. No revision entry does not prove that a record never changed.
2026-09-14T06:12:20.660Z · model_change
Index 44 → 44; severity critical → critical; version 4 → 5.
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Brightness | 354.21 |
| Frp | 911.46 |
| PixelCount | 52 |
| Confidence | nominal |
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.
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In the news nearby
A list of links found by GDELT for this place and this hazard in the last seven days. External, not ours: we have not read them and do not vouch for them.
No news is listed: GDELT was not available when this page was rendered.
GDELT Project · gdeltproject.org