Fire near Bahr el Ghazal du Nord (SS)

8.45°N, 27.63°E · first detected on 2 October at 12:53

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 2 October at 12:53 to 21 October at 15:44, that is 19 days, through 679 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 16,246 ha.

Detected extent: 16,246 ha
Cumulative power: 5,094 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 66 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 679
Estimated emissions: 951 t of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 5 October 2026 to 21 October 2026. An order-of-magnitude estimate from GFAS (ECMWF, Copernicus CAMS): it also counts neighbouring fires in the same cell. Contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information (2026).

These four figures cover the polar orbits alone, the ones that measure an area. The pass table below also counts geostationary detections, more frequent but too coarse for geometry, and its power column sums a whole pass where the peak above is that of a single pixel.

“Detected extent” is not “burned area”: it is the union of the ground footprints of the satellite pixels, and a pixel counts in full (375 m for VIIRS, 1 km for MODIS) even when only a forest edge is burning. Compared with press figures it is in practice one and a half to three times the area reported. Detections taken at the edge of the scan swath, too coarse to measure anything at all, are excluded. These figures come from thermal detection and are not an official assessment: only the emergency services and the competent authorities are authoritative.

Replay how the fire spread

The map is framed on this fire's footprint and loads only its detections. The timeline below covers the period in which satellites saw it, from the first to the last detection, with twelve hours before and twenty-four after; the ticks on the bar mark the emergency services' announcements that fall within it. The cursor opens on the most powerful pass, and playback replays the whole fire in about thirty seconds. “1 h” shows what is burning within an hour of the chosen moment : the map then follows the power curve below and empties when it falls. “24 h” stacks twenty-four hours : a fire stays visible between two satellite passes, which come two to four times a day. Both are true, but they say different things.

Before, after: the burn scar seen from space

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the same area near Bahr el Ghazal du Nord (SS) during the fire, on 9 October 2026

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the area near Bahr el Ghazal du Nord (SS) before the fire, on 26 September 2026

Before · 26 September 2026During · 9 October 2026

Sentinel-2, 10 m resolution. No sufficiently clear pass has followed the fire going out yet: the second image was taken DURING the fire, so the burn scar had not finished spreading. It will be replaced automatically at the first clear sky. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel-2 data (2026).

How the radiative power evolved

One point per satellite pass: the sum of the fire radiative power measured over the fire. This is the curve that says whether the fire eased off or picked up again, which no cumulative figure shows. The window covers 22 days; beyond that, clustering would merge two successive fires in the same place.

Fire dynamics

Loading history…

Satellite passes in detail

Pass	Power summed over the pass	Detections	Sensor
22 October at 15:05	181 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 14:55	238 MW	11	Met12
22 October at 14:52	163 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 14:52	279 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 14:45	122 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 14:37	150 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 14:37	87 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 14:35	71 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 14:25	94 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 14:22	299 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 14:15	102 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 14:07	128 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 14:05	92 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 13:55	193 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 13:52	408 MW	8	Met9
22 October at 13:45	109 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 13:37	387 MW	8	Met9
22 October at 13:35	243 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 13:25	98 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:22	96 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 13:15	198 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 13:07	514 MW	9	Met9
22 October at 13:05	197 MW	9	Met12
22 October at 12:55	179 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 12:52	489 MW	9	Met9
22 October at 12:45	112 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 12:37	175 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 12:35	150 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 12:25	93 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 12:15	66 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 12:05	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 11:55	21 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 11:52	39 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:45	32 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:35	83 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 11:25	84 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:22	189 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:15	27 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:07	210 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:05	96 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 10:55	43 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 17:05	50 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 16:25	56 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 16:15	76 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 16:07	48 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 16:07	34 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:05	81 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 15:55	80 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:52	93 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:45	120 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 15:44	282 MW	24	Aqua
21 October at 15:37	65 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:37	110 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:35	125 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 15:25	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:15	24 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:05	38 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:55	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:52	30 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:45	44 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:37	40 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:35	57 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:22	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:17	257 MW	63	N
21 October at 13:55	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 13:38	634 MW	85	N21
21 October at 13:35	90 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:25	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:05	49 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 12:55	212 MW	34	N20
21 October at 12:55	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:35	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:25	98 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:22	57 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:15	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:05	59 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 11:55	50 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 11:45	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:35	18 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:25	51 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 11:15	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:45	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:35	28 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:25	44 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:15	60 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 16:07	145 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 16:05	45 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 15:55	50 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:52	62 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:45	21 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 15:37	61 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:37	36 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:35	103 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 15:25	81 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 15:22	257 MW	7	Met9
20 October at 15:22	158 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 15:15	81 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:07	68 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:07	111 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:05	165 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 14:55	73 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:52	116 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 14:52	52 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 14:45	160 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:37	180 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 14:37	44 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 14:35	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:34	27 MW	4	N
20 October at 14:25	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:22	36 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:05	24 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:57	433 MW	51	N21
20 October at 13:55	50 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:25	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:15	164 MW	27	N20
20 October at 13:15	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:05	29 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 12:55	51 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 12:53	90 MW	12	N
20 October at 12:45	71 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 12:37	47 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:35	109 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 12:25	74 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 12:22	80 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:15	106 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 12:07	46 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:05	31 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:55	21 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:45	24 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:35	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:15	38 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 10:52	37 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:05	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 17:05	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:52	23 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:45	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:35	21 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:25	19 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:15	53 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 16:08	252 MW	12	Aqua
19 October at 16:07	273 MW	6	Met10
19 October at 16:07	242 MW	6	Met9
19 October at 16:05	112 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:55	130 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 15:52	363 MW	8	Met9
19 October at 15:52	187 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 15:45	61 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:37	90 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 15:37	78 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:35	95 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:25	215 MW	13	Met12
19 October at 15:22	181 MW	4	Met10
19 October at 15:22	416 MW	10	Met9
19 October at 15:15	114 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 15:07	208 MW	6	Met9
19 October at 15:07	115 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 15:05	67 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 14:55	53 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:52	35 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 14:52	71 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:45	67 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:37	249 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 14:37	161 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 14:25	58 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:22	93 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:22	94 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:17	156 MW	16	N21
19 October at 14:15	24 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 14:07	108 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:05	88 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 13:55	22 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 13:52	165 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 13:45	251 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 13:37	132 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 13:35	71 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 13:32	618 MW	96	N20
19 October at 13:25	49 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 13:15	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 13:11	248 MW	41	N
19 October at 13:07	49 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 13:05	57 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 12:55	88 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 12:45	69 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 12:37	180 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 12:36	232 MW	19	N21
19 October at 12:35	65 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 12:25	65 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 12:15	160 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 12:07	96 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 12:05	72 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 11:55	47 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 11:45	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 11:25	19 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 11:15	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 10:07	39 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 10:05	10 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 13:51	14 MW	2	N20
17 October at 14:10	22 MW	3	N20
17 October at 13:49	2 MW	1	N
16 October at 13:32	2 MW	1	N21
16 October at 12:47	8 MW	1	N20
15 October at 14:27	89 MW	15	N
15 October at 13:51	483 MW	65	N21
15 October at 13:08	238 MW	33	N20
15 October at 12:47	6 MW	1	N
14 October at 14:10	83 MW	9	N21
14 October at 13:25	321 MW	43	N20
14 October at 13:06	92 MW	12	N
13 October at 13:45	44 MW	5	N20
12 October at 13:08	65 MW	8	N21
10 October at 14:21	9 MW	2	N
10 October at 13:46	37 MW	7	N21
10 October at 13:02	38 MW	6	N20
9 October at 14:04	74 MW	12	N21
9 October at 13:19	105 MW	13	N20
9 October at 13:00	3 MW	1	N
8 October at 13:38	48 MW	11	N20
8 October at 13:19	11 MW	3	N
7 October at 13:57	4 MW	1	N20
7 October at 13:38	14 MW	3	N
6 October at 13:55	15 MW	3	N
5 October at 14:17	36 MW	7	N
5 October at 13:38	110 MW	12	N21
5 October at 12:53	4 MW	1	N20
4 October at 13:57	19 MW	3	N21
4 October at 13:15	58 MW	9	N20
4 October at 12:53	17 MW	3	N
3 October at 15:50	13 MW	2	Aqua
3 October at 14:17	9 MW	1	N21
3 October at 13:32	16 MW	6	N20
3 October at 13:10	21 MW	4	N
3 October at 12:36	5 MW	1	N21
2 October at 12:53	4 MW	1	N21

8 other fires near Bahr el Ghazal du Nord (SS)

Separate fires, apart in time or in space, not pieces of this one. A single municipality can have several over one summer, and a forest massif often covers more than a hundred square kilometres.

Follow live

The map shows active fires in 3D, with smoke plumes, forecast wind, drop zones and the live position of water bombers tracked by ADS-B, anywhere in the world.

Open the fire map

Take the data of this fire with you

A ready-to-use archive, paid once, no subscription. It contains:

the satellite detections of the fire
the contours of its progression
the drops and the aircraft tracks
the lightning around it
the severity of the burned area, when computed

From €20.00 excl. VAT, six formats to choose from, link valid for 30 days.

Download the data

Pro subscribers: included. €49 excl. VAT a month, no commitment. The public map stays free. Discover GISFire Pro

© 2026 SARO · Gistin. All rights reserved. The interface, its presentation and the contents of GISFire are protected; reproducing or imitating them requires written permission. The source data remain the property of their respective producers, see the credits.

Legal notice · Privacy policy · · GISFire v2.4.2