Right now
The most recent data we hold from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) arrived 6 minutes ago, and this point is in it.
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.
No stronger detection stands among the 831 recorded within 20 km of this point since 10 February 2024 — one other scored the same. Another comparable one was recorded here earlier the same day. 2 more were recorded here in the fortnight before it.
What the source measured
NASA FIRMS (VIIRS) reported 23 fire pixels with a combined fire radiative power of 23 MW, at nominal confidence, 2 km from Santa Ana.
The 23 pixels cover about 3.2 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: 2,319,801 within a heuristic 35 km radius; not unique people.
Wind from SW at 14 km/h at 23:00 UTC, according to MET Norway.
This is the highest radiative power we have recorded at this point, over 139 readings since 19 September 2026 — the previous range was 22.85 MW to 22.93 MW.
How we know
One source: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS). Not yet confirmed by a second, independent source.
Our own score for this event is 48 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) | 48 / 100 |
| Legacy data-support index | 0.74/1 |
| Coordinates | 33.7569, -117.8864 |
| Nearest City | Santa Ana (2 km) |
| Urban exposure index (PEI) | 2.3M within 35 km |
| Impact Tier | severe |
| Timestamp | 2026-09-19T10:36:00.000Z |
| Source | https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@-117.886,33.757,9z |
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: 2026-09-19T10:36:00.000Z.
First archived: 2026-09-19T10:41:56.306Z. Material modification: 2026-09-19T12:34:48.302Z.
Retained revisions are prospective; earlier versions may be unavailable. No revision entry does not prove that a record never changed.
2026-09-19T12:34:48.302Z · data_change
Index 48 → 48; severity critical → critical; version 5 → 5.
2026-09-19T10:47:33.365Z · data_change
Index 48 → 48; severity critical → critical; version 5 → 5.
Score Breakdown
Technical Details
| Brightness | 323.73 |
| Frp | 22.93 |
| PixelCount | 23 |
| 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 for live collection; the monthly chart also counts backfilled detections from 10 February 2024. 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