Fire near Katanga (CD)

12.41°S, 28.37°E · first detected on 23 September at 12:53

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 23 September at 12:53 to 23 October at 02:03, that is at least 30 days: the clustering window stops there, and the fire or heat source may be older, through 1,687 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 32,545 ha.

Detected extent: 32,545 ha
Cumulative power: 16,587 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 229 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 1,687
Estimated emissions: 13.6 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 5 October 2026 to 22 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). Published data stop on 22 October 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.

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 30 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
23 October at 09:43	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 09:33	27 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 09:23	22 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 08:13	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 08:03	12 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 02:03	1 MW	1	N21
23 October at 01:18	3 MW	1	N20
23 October at 00:59	1 MW	1	N
22 October at 17:53	24 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 17:50	22 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 17:43	45 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 17:35	25 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 17:35	23 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 16:16	11 MW	1	Aqua
22 October at 15:03	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 14:53	56 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:43	55 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 14:33	32 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:23	34 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:13	44 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:10	306 MW	34	N20
22 October at 14:04	35 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 14:03	62 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 13:53	110 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 13:50	247 MW	30	N
22 October at 13:49	73 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 13:43	43 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 13:33	20 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 13:23	84 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:19	109 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 13:19	50 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 13:15	225 MW	23	N21
22 October at 13:13	80 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 13:04	174 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:04	117 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 13:03	103 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 12:53	63 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 12:43	30 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 12:33	15 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 12:23	38 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 12:19	42 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 12:19	44 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 12:13	82 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 12:04	36 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:53	27 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:49	51 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:49	38 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 11:43	73 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 11:34	114 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:34	104 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 11:23	112 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 11:13	66 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:03	18 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 10:43	84 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 10:33	12 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 10:23	10 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 10:13	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:42	24 MW	3	Terra
22 October at 01:35	16 MW	6	N20
22 October at 01:16	10 MW	3	N
22 October at 00:40	22 MW	4	N21
21 October at 17:33	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:13	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:03	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:53	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:40	107 MW	6	Aqua
21 October at 15:23	23 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:13	130 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:05	238 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:03	93 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 14:53	132 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:50	80 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 14:43	72 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:35	36 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:33	57 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:29	233 MW	25	N20
21 October at 14:23	114 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 14:19	90 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 14:13	288 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 14:10	572 MW	44	N
21 October at 14:04	188 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 14:04	161 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 14:03	112 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 13:53	42 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:49	194 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:49	152 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:43	86 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:34	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:33	49 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:32	270 MW	37	N21
21 October at 13:23	126 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 13:19	75 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:13	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 13:04	44 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 13:04	68 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:03	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:53	39 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:49	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:49	46 MW	6	N20
21 October at 12:43	67 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:34	37 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:34	42 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:33	72 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:23	85 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:19	85 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:19	98 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:13	304 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 12:04	107 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:04	119 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:03	98 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 11:53	75 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 11:49	124 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 11:49	131 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 11:34	36 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:33	32 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 11:13	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:03	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:53	30 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:43	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:34	38 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 10:33	48 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:23	62 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 10:19	83 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 10:19	39 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 10:13	51 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:03	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:03	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 01:56	5 MW	4	N20
21 October at 01:35	4 MW	4	N
21 October at 00:59	3 MW	1	N21
20 October at 21:33	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:33	55 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:23	89 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:03	411 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 17:53	115 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 17:43	134 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 17:33	107 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 17:13	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:03	43 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:43	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:33	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:23	35 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:13	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:05	47 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 16:03	51 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:53	94 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:50	29 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:43	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 15:33	45 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 15:23	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 15:03	21 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:53	20 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:43	29 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:33	48 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:27	134 MW	23	N
20 October at 14:13	44 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 13:51	236 MW	39	N21
20 October at 13:08	60 MW	14	N20
20 October at 13:03	27 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:53	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 12:34	51 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:33	77 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 12:13	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:53	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:33	24 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:23	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:13	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:53	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:23	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 02:13	2 MW	1	N20
20 October at 01:54	1 MW	2	N
20 October at 01:18	2 MW	3	N21
19 October at 16:01	121 MW	11	Aqua
19 October at 14:49	142 MW	13	N
19 October at 14:10	199 MW	18	N21
19 October at 13:25	307 MW	29	N20
19 October at 13:08	234 MW	22	N
19 October at 02:13	1 MW	1	N
19 October at 01:35	1 MW	1	N21
19 October at 00:52	2 MW	2	N20
18 October at 14:29	38 MW	5	N21
18 October at 13:47	187 MW	32	N20
18 October at 13:25	137 MW	20	N
18 October at 12:48	86 MW	10	N21
18 October at 01:12	5 MW	3	N20
18 October at 00:52	4 MW	4	N
17 October at 20:58	6 MW	1	Terra
17 October at 14:04	247 MW	33	N20
17 October at 13:45	320 MW	46	N
17 October at 13:08	183 MW	22	N21
17 October at 01:29	4 MW	4	N20
17 October at 01:09	5 MW	3	N
17 October at 00:33	1 MW	1	N21
16 October at 15:46	10 MW	1	Aqua
16 October at 14:21	283 MW	47	N20
16 October at 14:04	498 MW	71	N
16 October at 13:25	298 MW	36	N21
16 October at 01:50	6 MW	5	N20
16 October at 01:31	6 MW	4	N
16 October at 00:52	5 MW	2	N21
15 October at 21:17	14 MW	1	Terra
15 October at 14:42	36 MW	6	N20
15 October at 14:21	244 MW	29	N
15 October at 13:47	377 MW	48	N21
15 October at 13:02	328 MW	31	N20
15 October at 01:48	2 MW	2	N
15 October at 01:12	2 MW	3	N21
14 October at 20:36	7 MW	1	Terra
14 October at 16:10	89 MW	7	Aqua
14 October at 14:41	198 MW	19	N
14 October at 14:04	398 MW	41	N21
14 October at 13:19	355 MW	39	N20
14 October at 13:00	183 MW	19	N
14 October at 08:25	6 MW	1	Terra
13 October at 15:31	89 MW	3	Aqua
13 October at 14:21	107 MW	12	N21
13 October at 13:40	324 MW	38	N20
12 October at 16:31	89 MW	1	Aqua
12 October at 13:02	203 MW	24	N21
12 October at 08:44	18 MW	2	Terra
12 October at 01:24	5 MW	5	N20
11 October at 15:55	208 MW	18	Aqua
11 October at 14:17	234 MW	21	N20
11 October at 13:57	123 MW	25	N
11 October at 13:19	208 MW	22	N21
11 October at 01:41	2 MW	2	N20
10 October at 14:36	276 MW	18	N20
10 October at 14:17	394 MW	50	N
10 October at 13:40	623 MW	69	N21
10 October at 12:56	355 MW	24	N20
9 October at 16:14	15 MW	1	Aqua
9 October at 14:34	48 MW	8	N
9 October at 13:57	216 MW	23	N21
9 October at 13:13	290 MW	14	N20
9 October at 12:53	16 MW	1	N
9 October at 08:27	121 MW	4	Terra
8 October at 01:44	4 MW	2	N21
8 October at 00:59	2 MW	2	N20
7 October at 13:51	1,012 MW	103	N20
7 October at 13:32	1,213 MW	103	N
7 October at 12:56	1,195 MW	81	N21
6 October at 15:59	161 MW	12	Aqua
6 October at 14:10	309 MW	39	N20
6 October at 13:49	382 MW	54	N
6 October at 13:15	346 MW	24	N21
4 October at 14:27	64 MW	9	N
4 October at 13:51	78 MW	12	N21
4 October at 13:08	87 MW	4	N20
4 October at 01:54	1 MW	1	N
3 October at 15:44	26 MW	2	Aqua
3 October at 14:10	18 MW	3	N21
3 October at 13:25	24 MW	3	N20
1 October at 16:08	14 MW	2	Aqua
1 October at 14:04	53 MW	8	N20
1 October at 13:45	178 MW	27	N
1 October at 13:08	96 MW	6	N21
1 October at 01:29	5 MW	5	N20
30 September at 14:21	61 MW	10	N20
30 September at 14:04	200 MW	29	N
30 September at 13:25	196 MW	20	N21
30 September at 01:50	6 MW	2	N20
30 September at 01:31	8 MW	6	N
30 September at 00:52	1 MW	1	N21
29 September at 20:41	5 MW	1	Terra
29 September at 16:29	177 MW	5	Aqua
29 September at 14:42	64 MW	6	N20
29 September at 14:21	229 MW	29	N
29 September at 13:47	418 MW	57	N21
29 September at 13:02	397 MW	34	N20
29 September at 01:12	1 MW	1	N21
28 September at 15:53	121 MW	6	Aqua
28 September at 14:04	151 MW	25	N21
28 September at 13:19	164 MW	26	N20
28 September at 01:29	1 MW	1	N21
27 September at 14:22	113 MW	10	N21
27 September at 13:38	136 MW	23	N20
27 September at 13:19	299 MW	15	N
27 September at 08:48	19 MW	3	Terra
27 September at 02:26	2 MW	2	N
27 September at 01:50	5 MW	3	N21
27 September at 01:03	3 MW	2	N20
27 September at 00:46	3 MW	2	N
26 September at 16:14	62 MW	4	Aqua
26 September at 13:57	427 MW	71	N20
26 September at 13:38	643 MW	60	N
26 September at 13:02	561 MW	53	N21
26 September at 08:10	39 MW	2	Terra
26 September at 01:24	6 MW	4	N20
26 September at 01:03	3 MW	4	N
26 September at 00:29	11 MW	4	N21
25 September at 15:36	196 MW	7	Aqua
25 September at 14:17	566 MW	50	N20
25 September at 13:56	862 MW	100	N
25 September at 13:19	737 MW	65	N21
25 September at 01:41	24 MW	11	N20
25 September at 01:22	24 MW	11	N
25 September at 00:46	18 MW	10	N21
24 September at 20:45	59 MW	6	Terra
24 September at 14:36	311 MW	14	N20
24 September at 14:17	475 MW	40	N
24 September at 13:40	351 MW	41	N21
24 September at 12:55	63 MW	7	N20
24 September at 08:29	161 MW	2	Terra

8 other fires near Katanga (CD)

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.

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