Right now
The most recent data we hold from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) arrived 4 minutes ago, and this point is in it.
One other detection within 20 km in the last 24 hours, 25 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 strongest of the 6 detections recorded within 20 km of this point since 6 September 2026. The last comparable one was on 14 September 2026. 5 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) reported 462 fire pixels with a combined fire radiative power of 3775 MW, at high confidence, 19 km from Tshela.
The 462 pixels cover about 64.7 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: 44,885 within a heuristic 50 km radius; not unique people.
Wind from SW at 13 km/h at 05:00 UTC, according to MET Norway.
This is the highest radiative power we have recorded at this point, over 54 readings since 15 September 2026 — the previous range was 3,772 MW to 3,775 MW.
Nearby, since 6 September 2026
- September 11, 2026 · score 50 · 23.6 km
How we know
One source: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS). Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 55 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) | 55 / 100 |
| Legacy data-support index | 0.74/1 |
| Coordinates | -4.8546, 13.0483 |
| Nearest City | Tshela (19 km) |
| Urban exposure index (PEI) | 44.9K within 50 km |
| Impact Tier | significant |
| Timestamp | 2026-09-15T00:13:00.000Z |
| Source | https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@13.048,-4.855,9z |
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: 2026-09-15T00:13:00.000Z.
First archived: 2026-09-15T00:04:55.005Z. Material modification: 2026-09-15T02:28:18.093Z.
Retained revisions are prospective; earlier versions may be unavailable. No revision entry does not prove that a record never changed.
2026-09-15T02:28:18.093Z · data_change
Index 55 → 55; severity critical → critical; version 5 → 5.
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Brightness | 367 |
| Frp | 3774.9 |
| PixelCount | 462 |
| 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 near Tshela?
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