Fire near Limpopo (ZA)

23.06°S, 29.36°E · first detected on 18 October at 13:21

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 18 October at 13:21 to 23 October at 03:09, that is 5 days, through 215 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 2,008 ha.

Detected extent: 2,008 ha
Cumulative power: 3,154 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 533 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 215
Estimated emissions: 6.4 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 18 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 7 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 10:52	13 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 10:32	23 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 10:12	12 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 09:42	10 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 09:32	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 06:02	10 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:52	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:42	11 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:32	18 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:22	18 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:18	94 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 05:18	48 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 05:12	27 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 05:03	102 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 05:03	57 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 05:02	30 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 04:52	21 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 04:48	41 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 04:42	39 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 04:33	52 MW	1	Met10
23 October at 04:33	41 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 04:32	25 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 04:22	30 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 04:18	48 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 04:18	92 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 04:12	39 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 04:03	41 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 04:03	50 MW	1	Met10
23 October at 04:02	22 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 03:52	36 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 03:48	44 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 03:48	83 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 03:42	37 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 03:33	110 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 03:33	55 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 03:32	39 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 03:22	16 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 03:18	58 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 03:18	110 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 03:09	113 MW	4	Aqua
23 October at 03:03	147 MW	3	Met10
23 October at 03:03	60 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 03:02	31 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 02:52	55 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 02:48	63 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 02:48	200 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 02:33	218 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 02:33	69 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 02:18	71 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 02:18	231 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 02:12	61 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 02:05	280 MW	28	N21
23 October at 02:03	248 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 02:03	76 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 02:02	67 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 01:42	72 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 01:33	335 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 01:32	126 MW	3	Met12
23 October at 01:22	100 MW	4	Met12
23 October at 01:20	169 MW	35	N20
23 October at 01:18	106 MW	2	Met9
23 October at 01:18	271 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 01:12	49 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 01:03	333 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 01:03	125 MW	2	Met9
23 October at 01:01	171 MW	26	N
23 October at 00:52	101 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 00:48	332 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 00:48	163 MW	3	Met9
23 October at 00:33	137 MW	3	Met9
23 October at 00:33	255 MW	4	Met10
23 October at 00:32	79 MW	3	Met12
23 October at 00:22	53 MW	2	Met12
23 October at 00:22	97 MW	14	N21
23 October at 00:18	78 MW	2	Met9
23 October at 00:18	93 MW	2	Met10
23 October at 00:12	14 MW	1	Met12
23 October at 00:03	39 MW	1	Met9
23 October at 00:03	50 MW	1	Met10
23 October at 00:02	36 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 23:52	25 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 23:48	46 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 23:48	156 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 23:42	25 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 23:34	105 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 23:33	66 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 23:32	34 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 23:19	113 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 23:18	71 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 23:12	27 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 23:04	125 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 23:03	71 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 23:02	20 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 22:49	150 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 22:48	156 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:42	64 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 22:34	209 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 22:33	157 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:32	82 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 22:22	80 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 22:19	327 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 22:18	216 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 22:04	337 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 22:03	177 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 22:02	110 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 21:52	24 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 21:49	285 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 21:48	200 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 21:42	45 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 21:34	306 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 21:33	247 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 21:32	103 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 21:22	55 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 21:19	209 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 21:18	198 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 21:12	118 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 21:04	231 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 21:04	216 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 21:02	96 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 20:52	181 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 20:51	294 MW	6	Terra
22 October at 20:49	265 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:49	229 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 20:42	123 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 20:34	491 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:34	722 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 20:32	378 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 20:22	109 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 20:19	259 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 20:19	246 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 20:12	28 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 20:04	75 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 20:03	95 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 19:49	114 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 19:48	84 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 19:42	79 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 19:34	113 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 19:33	106 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 19:32	46 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 19:22	32 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 19:19	112 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 19:18	104 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 19:12	61 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 19:04	96 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 19:03	66 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 19:02	45 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 18:52	48 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 18:49	71 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 18:48	65 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 18:34	74 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 18:33	61 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 18:32	83 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 18:22	70 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 18:19	104 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 18:18	106 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 18:12	107 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 18:04	92 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 18:03	122 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 18:02	62 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 17:52	108 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 17:49	144 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 17:48	155 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 17:42	125 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 17:34	212 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 17:33	226 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 17:32	163 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 17:22	255 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 17:19	405 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 17:18	407 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 17:12	346 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 17:04	331 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 17:03	385 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 17:02	233 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 16:52	354 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 16:49	440 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 16:48	472 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 16:42	417 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 16:34	647 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 16:33	711 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 16:32	533 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 16:22	531 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 16:19	695 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 16:18	754 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 16:14	884 MW	5	Aqua
22 October at 16:12	982 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 16:04	1,191 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 16:03	1,564 MW	7	Met10
22 October at 16:02	1,444 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 15:52	837 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 15:49	542 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 15:48	595 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 15:42	225 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 15:33	74 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 15:33	119 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 15:32	84 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 15:22	129 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 15:18	48 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 15:18	43 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 15:12	27 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 01:01	2 MW	2	N21
20 October at 18:22	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:12	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:02	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:52	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:42	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:42	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:32	22 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:12	49 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:04	67 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 16:02	30 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:52	75 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:48	45 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:48	37 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:42	72 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:33	41 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:33	48 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:32	83 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:22	102 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:18	50 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:18	62 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:12	111 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:03	71 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:03	77 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:02	134 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 14:52	109 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:48	85 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 14:48	65 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:46	64 MW	3	N20
20 October at 14:42	93 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:33	83 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 14:33	61 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:32	141 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 14:25	262 MW	12	N
20 October at 14:22	70 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:18	56 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:18	72 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 14:12	72 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:03	40 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:02	59 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:52	61 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:48	63 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:48	55 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:47	79 MW	6	N21
20 October at 13:42	59 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:33	51 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:33	43 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:32	59 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:22	61 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:18	47 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:12	50 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:04	62 MW	4	N20
20 October at 13:03	59 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:02	74 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 12:52	49 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:48	59 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:42	42 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:32	20 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 12:22	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 12:12	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 02:18	2 MW	1	N20
20 October at 01:58	15 MW	2	N
20 October at 01:20	10 MW	3	N21
20 October at 00:37	10 MW	4	N20
19 October at 15:59	258 MW	4	Aqua
19 October at 14:08	77 MW	6	N21
19 October at 13:23	63 MW	4	N20
19 October at 13:04	19 MW	4	N
19 October at 08:27	14 MW	2	Terra
19 October at 03:52	39 MW	2	Aqua
19 October at 02:16	15 MW	8	N
19 October at 01:39	16 MW	7	N21
19 October at 00:57	17 MW	7	N20
19 October at 00:35	9 MW	4	N
18 October at 21:32	40 MW	1	Terra
18 October at 14:25	13 MW	2	N21
18 October at 13:42	21 MW	3	N20
18 October at 13:21	40 MW	6	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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