Fire near Katanga (CD)

12.83°S, 28.88°E · first detected on 23 September at 12:53

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 23 September at 12:53 to 22 October at 14:10, that is 29 days, through 1,142 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 20,067 ha.

Detected extent: 20,067 ha
Cumulative power: 9,233 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 85 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 1,142
Estimated emissions: 3.2 kt 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). Published data stop on 21 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 08:13	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 08:03	12 MW	1	Met12
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	22 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:53	56 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:43	44 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:33	26 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:23	34 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:13	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 14:10	287 MW	38	N20
22 October at 14:03	23 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 13:53	86 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:50	235 MW	36	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	71 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 13:19	50 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 13:19	109 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 13:15	286 MW	27	N21
22 October at 13:13	95 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:04	174 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:04	117 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 13:03	120 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 12:53	63 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 12:43	12 MW	1	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	38 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 11:49	51 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:43	73 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 11:34	104 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 11:34	114 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:23	51 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 11:13	66 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:03	35 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:53	112 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 10:49	40 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:49	45 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:43	117 MW	5	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 09:03	12 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:53	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:42	32 MW	4	Terra
22 October at 01:35	2 MW	1	N20
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	171 MW	7	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	104 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:53	145 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 14:50	80 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 14:43	89 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:35	36 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:33	70 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:29	205 MW	21	N20
21 October at 14:23	127 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 14:19	90 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 14:13	288 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 14:10	624 MW	54	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	31 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:49	152 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:49	194 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:43	70 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 13:34	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:33	36 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:32	288 MW	40	N21
21 October at 13:23	114 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 13:19	75 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:13	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 13:04	106 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:04	68 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:03	56 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 12:53	39 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:49	52 MW	7	N20
21 October at 12:49	33 MW	1	Met9
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	104 MW	4	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	131 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 11:49	124 MW	2	Met9
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	35 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:13	28 MW	2	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	104 MW	7	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	39 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:53	35 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:43	29 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:33	48 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:27	136 MW	24	N
20 October at 14:23	27 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:13	55 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:51	335 MW	52	N21
20 October at 13:43	17 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:33	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:23	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:08	67 MW	18	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	94 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 12:13	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:53	73 MW	5	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 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	99 MW	9	N
19 October at 14:10	253 MW	25	N21
19 October at 13:25	331 MW	33	N20
19 October at 13:08	240 MW	27	N
18 October at 14:29	28 MW	4	N21
18 October at 13:47	155 MW	27	N20
18 October at 13:25	87 MW	15	N
18 October at 12:48	86 MW	10	N21
18 October at 01:12	4 MW	2	N20
18 October at 00:52	4 MW	4	N
17 October at 20:58	6 MW	1	Terra
17 October at 14:04	335 MW	50	N20
17 October at 13:45	408 MW	58	N
17 October at 13:08	205 MW	25	N21
17 October at 08:44	7 MW	1	Terra
17 October at 01:29	3 MW	3	N20
17 October at 01:09	5 MW	3	N
17 October at 00:33	1 MW	1	N21
16 October at 15:46	15 MW	1	Aqua
16 October at 14:21	272 MW	45	N20
16 October at 14:04	523 MW	72	N
16 October at 13:25	221 MW	30	N21
15 October at 14:42	26 MW	4	N20
15 October at 14:21	232 MW	27	N
15 October at 13:47	413 MW	47	N21
15 October at 13:02	349 MW	33	N20
15 October at 01:48	4 MW	4	N
15 October at 01:12	1 MW	2	N21
14 October at 20:36	7 MW	1	Terra
14 October at 16:10	225 MW	11	Aqua
14 October at 14:41	211 MW	20	N
14 October at 14:04	471 MW	47	N21
14 October at 13:19	442 MW	49	N20
14 October at 13:00	202 MW	22	N
14 October at 08:25	12 MW	2	Terra
14 October at 02:07	3 MW	2	N
14 October at 01:29	6 MW	2	N21
14 October at 00:46	2 MW	1	N20
13 October at 15:31	89 MW	3	Aqua
13 October at 14:21	107 MW	12	N21
13 October at 13:40	314 MW	45	N20
12 October at 16:31	89 MW	1	Aqua
12 October at 13:02	196 MW	27	N21
12 October at 08:44	18 MW	2	Terra
12 October at 01:24	2 MW	2	N20
11 October at 15:55	181 MW	16	Aqua
11 October at 14:17	172 MW	17	N20
11 October at 13:57	130 MW	26	N
11 October at 13:19	262 MW	23	N21
10 October at 14:36	40 MW	6	N20
10 October at 14:17	264 MW	34	N
10 October at 13:40	321 MW	56	N21
10 October at 12:56	266 MW	17	N20
9 October at 16:14	15 MW	1	Aqua
9 October at 14:34	44 MW	7	N
9 October at 13:57	163 MW	15	N21
9 October at 13:13	238 MW	7	N20
9 October at 12:53	16 MW	1	N
9 October at 08:27	121 MW	4	Terra
8 October at 01:44	1 MW	1	N21
7 October at 13:51	835 MW	89	N20
7 October at 13:32	949 MW	87	N
7 October at 12:56	1,034 MW	69	N21
6 October at 15:59	118 MW	9	Aqua
6 October at 14:10	262 MW	32	N20
6 October at 13:49	282 MW	42	N
6 October at 13:15	226 MW	21	N21
4 October at 14:27	53 MW	7	N
4 October at 13:51	74 MW	12	N21
4 October at 13:08	84 MW	3	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	32 MW	4	N20
3 October at 13:06	4 MW	1	N
1 October at 16:08	6 MW	1	Aqua
1 October at 14:04	61 MW	10	N20
1 October at 13:45	184 MW	24	N
1 October at 13:08	78 MW	5	N21
1 October at 01:29	4 MW	3	N20
30 September at 14:21	61 MW	10	N20
30 September at 14:04	192 MW	28	N
30 September at 13:25	210 MW	24	N21
30 September at 01:50	7 MW	3	N20
30 September at 01:31	8 MW	6	N
30 September at 00:52	5 MW	3	N21
29 September at 20:41	16 MW	2	Terra
29 September at 16:29	177 MW	5	Aqua
29 September at 14:42	64 MW	6	N20
29 September at 14:21	218 MW	28	N
29 September at 13:47	528 MW	76	N21
29 September at 13:02	465 MW	45	N20
29 September at 01:12	1 MW	1	N21
28 September at 15:53	121 MW	6	Aqua
28 September at 14:04	111 MW	17	N21
28 September at 13:19	162 MW	25	N20
27 September at 14:22	113 MW	10	N21
27 September at 13:38	163 MW	26	N20
27 September at 13:19	239 MW	16	N
27 September at 08:48	19 MW	3	Terra
27 September at 02:26	2 MW	1	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	106 MW	6	Aqua
26 September at 13:57	377 MW	59	N20
26 September at 13:38	571 MW	54	N
26 September at 13:02	363 MW	48	N21
26 September at 08:10	39 MW	2	Terra
26 September at 01:24	8 MW	5	N20
26 September at 01:03	4 MW	5	N
26 September at 00:29	19 MW	6	N21
25 September at 15:36	210 MW	8	Aqua
25 September at 14:17	352 MW	46	N20
25 September at 13:56	876 MW	103	N
25 September at 13:19	888 MW	78	N21
25 September at 01:41	21 MW	9	N20
25 September at 01:22	18 MW	8	N
25 September at 00:46	14 MW	8	N21
24 September at 20:45	38 MW	3	Terra
24 September at 14:35	264 MW	13	N20
24 September at 14:17	502 MW	33	N
24 September at 13:40	237 MW	28	N21
24 September at 12:53	73 MW	8	N20
24 September at 08:29	161 MW	2	Terra
23 September at 15:57	231 MW	12	Aqua
23 September at 14:34	113 MW	14	N

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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