Fire near Limpopo (ZA)

23.01°S, 31.48°E · first detected on 19 October at 22:02

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 19 October at 22:02 to 22 October at 20:51, that is 3 days, through 232 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 3,915 ha.

Detected extent: 3,915 ha
Cumulative power: 6,212 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 307 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 232
Estimated emissions: 11.9 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 19 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 5 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 01:20	9 MW	5	N20
23 October at 01:01	13 MW	5	N
23 October at 00:22	26 MW	13	N21
22 October at 23:32	13 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 23:12	263 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 23:04	38 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 23:02	37 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 22:52	45 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 22:49	149 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 22:48	185 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:42	109 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 22:34	109 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 22:33	135 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:22	15 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 22:19	87 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 22:18	95 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 22:12	72 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 22:04	250 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 22:03	204 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:02	39 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 21:52	24 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 21:48	50 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 21:42	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 21:34	132 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 21:33	108 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 21:32	30 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 21:22	50 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 21:19	179 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 21:18	177 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 21:12	38 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 21:04	120 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 21:04	117 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:52	46 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 20:51	64 MW	4	Terra
22 October at 20:49	41 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 20:49	63 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 20:42	16 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 20:34	95 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 20:34	85 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 20:32	30 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 20:22	44 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 20:19	186 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 20:19	193 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:12	71 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 20:04	156 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:03	149 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 20:02	16 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 19:52	34 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 19:49	152 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 19:48	153 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 19:42	56 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 19:34	196 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 19:33	239 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 19:32	17 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 19:22	101 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 19:19	354 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 19:18	369 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 19:12	82 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 19:04	236 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 19:03	175 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 19:02	36 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 18:52	39 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 18:49	135 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 18:48	94 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 18:42	68 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 18:34	170 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 18:33	122 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 18:32	83 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 18:22	17 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 18:19	47 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 18:18	43 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 17:22	13 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 17:19	66 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 17:18	51 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 17:12	16 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 17:04	147 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 17:03	127 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 17:02	31 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 16:52	26 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:49	243 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 16:48	264 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 16:42	21 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:34	321 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 16:33	385 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 16:32	41 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 16:22	43 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:19	447 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 16:18	572 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 16:14	509 MW	7	Aqua
22 October at 16:12	193 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 16:04	569 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 16:03	612 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 16:02	140 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 15:52	239 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 15:49	739 MW	8	Met9
22 October at 15:48	796 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 15:42	160 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 15:33	783 MW	7	Met10
22 October at 15:33	677 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 15:32	320 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 15:22	444 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 15:18	816 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 15:18	862 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 15:12	528 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 15:03	748 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 15:03	838 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 15:02	824 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 14:52	1,176 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 14:48	1,636 MW	8	Met9
22 October at 14:48	1,627 MW	7	Met10
22 October at 14:42	1,404 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 14:33	1,078 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 14:33	864 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 14:32	704 MW	17	Met12
22 October at 14:22	734 MW	16	Met12
22 October at 14:18	1,287 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 14:18	1,236 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 14:12	1,172 MW	18	Met12
22 October at 14:08	1,172 MW	52	N20
22 October at 14:03	929 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 14:03	1,141 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 14:02	872 MW	15	Met12
22 October at 13:52	2,921 MW	18	Met12
22 October at 13:48	1,793 MW	9	Met9
22 October at 13:48	1,437 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 13:47	1,499 MW	50	N
22 October at 13:42	1,371 MW	18	Met12
22 October at 13:33	1,350 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 13:33	1,550 MW	8	Met9
22 October at 13:32	1,034 MW	11	Met12
22 October at 13:22	2,058 MW	14	Met12
22 October at 13:18	1,639 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 13:18	964 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 13:12	1,558 MW	14	Met12
22 October at 13:10	1,571 MW	23	N21
22 October at 13:03	1,208 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 13:03	1,137 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 13:02	2,141 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 12:52	984 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 12:48	1,089 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 12:48	1,261 MW	7	Met9
22 October at 12:42	614 MW	11	Met12
22 October at 12:33	884 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 12:33	717 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 12:32	589 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 12:22	441 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 12:18	369 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 12:18	392 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 12:12	189 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 12:03	341 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 12:03	324 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 12:02	193 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 11:52	121 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:48	299 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:48	254 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:42	107 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 11:33	312 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:33	422 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 11:32	72 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:22	27 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 11:18	304 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 11:18	272 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:12	56 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:03	473 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 11:03	314 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:02	121 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 10:48	280 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 10:48	389 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 10:33	205 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 10:33	452 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 10:32	94 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:18	184 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 10:18	326 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 10:03	62 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:03	148 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 09:48	118 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 09:48	145 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 09:33	90 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 09:33	129 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 09:18	72 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 01:39	1 MW	1	N20
22 October at 01:20	4 MW	5	N
22 October at 00:44	9 MW	6	N21
21 October at 17:19	25 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 17:04	22 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 17:02	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:52	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:49	118 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:48	61 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 16:42	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:34	160 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:33	117 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:32	55 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:22	42 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:19	175 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:18	141 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:12	52 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:04	127 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:03	116 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:02	23 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:49	132 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:48	120 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:38	168 MW	4	Aqua
21 October at 15:33	181 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:33	149 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:22	67 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:18	195 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:18	244 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 15:03	111 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:03	130 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:48	221 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 14:48	165 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:33	190 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:33	214 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 14:32	68 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:25	115 MW	12	N20
21 October at 14:22	32 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:18	250 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 14:18	192 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:12	138 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:07	634 MW	23	N
21 October at 14:03	369 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 14:03	276 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:02	69 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:48	178 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:48	247 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 13:33	201 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:33	180 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:30	121 MW	21	N21
21 October at 13:18	207 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:18	271 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 13:03	442 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 13:03	405 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 13:02	232 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 12:52	380 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 12:48	597 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:48	558 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 12:45	236 MW	14	N20
21 October at 12:42	366 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 12:33	746 MW	6	Met9
21 October at 12:33	658 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 12:32	436 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 12:22	214 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:18	368 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:18	454 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:12	255 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:03	624 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:03	589 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 12:02	417 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 11:52	443 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 11:48	176 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 11:48	385 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 11:42	133 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 11:33	707 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 11:33	719 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 11:32	661 MW	11	Met12
21 October at 11:22	69 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 11:18	184 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:18	171 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 11:12	609 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 11:03	424 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 11:02	535 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 10:52	368 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 10:42	57 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:32	265 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 09:22	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:12	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:02	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:47	14 MW	3	N21
20 October at 02:18	26 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 02:12	36 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 02:03	215 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 02:03	138 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 02:02	148 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 01:58	96 MW	7	N

8 other fires near Limpopo (ZA)

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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