Fire near Limpopo (ZA)

24.87°S, 27.64°E · first detected on 17 October at 00:37

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 17 October at 00:37 to 21 October at 01:01, that is 4 days, through 392 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 4,362 ha.

Detected extent: 4,362 ha
Cumulative power: 1,698 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 52 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 392
Estimated emissions: 5.7 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 16 October 2026 to 20 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.

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
21 October at 01:01	1 MW	1	N21
20 October at 14:44	14 MW	3	N20
20 October at 14:25	19 MW	2	N
20 October at 13:47	13 MW	2	N21
20 October at 13:42	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:32	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:22	21 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:04	3 MW	1	N20
20 October at 01:22	0 MW	1	N21
19 October at 15:18	27 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 15:03	38 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 10:32	104 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 09:48	49 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:12	15 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 08:42	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 08:27	17 MW	2	Terra
19 October at 08:12	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 04:33	34 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 04:03	34 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 03:54	10 MW	1	Aqua
19 October at 03:48	32 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 03:33	41 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 03:33	30 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 03:32	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 03:22	18 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 03:18	102 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 03:18	93 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 03:03	140 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 03:03	130 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 03:02	24 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 02:52	28 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 02:48	135 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 02:48	145 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 02:42	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 02:33	73 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 02:33	97 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 02:18	71 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 02:18	74 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 02:16	77 MW	37	N
19 October at 02:12	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 02:03	99 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 02:03	72 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 02:02	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 01:39	146 MW	73	N21
19 October at 01:32	18 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 01:18	86 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 01:18	83 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 01:12	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 01:03	91 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 01:03	109 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 00:57	158 MW	54	N20
19 October at 00:48	121 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 00:48	140 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 00:35	154 MW	50	N
19 October at 00:33	179 MW	4	Met10
19 October at 00:33	145 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 00:32	16 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 00:22	22 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 00:18	246 MW	5	Met10
19 October at 00:18	222 MW	6	Met9
19 October at 00:12	45 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 00:03	265 MW	7	Met9
19 October at 00:03	325 MW	6	Met10
19 October at 00:02	16 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 23:52	18 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 23:48	337 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 23:48	364 MW	8	Met9
18 October at 23:42	74 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 23:33	304 MW	7	Met9
18 October at 23:33	298 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 23:32	38 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 23:22	39 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 23:18	329 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 23:18	314 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 23:12	25 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 23:03	257 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 23:03	247 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 23:02	21 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:52	22 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:48	255 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 22:48	303 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 22:42	28 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:33	314 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 22:33	272 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 22:32	24 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:22	27 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:18	286 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 22:18	297 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 22:12	25 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 22:03	388 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 22:03	286 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 22:02	40 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 21:52	70 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 21:48	370 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 21:48	238 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 21:42	46 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 21:33	378 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 21:33	287 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 21:32	53 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 21:32	265 MW	7	Terra
18 October at 21:22	84 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 21:18	465 MW	7	Met10
18 October at 21:18	275 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 21:04	474 MW	8	Met9
18 October at 21:03	422 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 21:02	84 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 20:52	99 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 20:48	467 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 20:48	500 MW	8	Met9
18 October at 20:42	387 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 20:33	1,396 MW	8	Met9
18 October at 20:33	1,119 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 20:32	344 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 20:22	176 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 20:18	384 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 20:18	478 MW	8	Met9
18 October at 20:04	339 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 20:03	270 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 19:49	273 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 19:48	385 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 19:42	105 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 19:34	296 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 19:33	382 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 19:32	101 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 19:22	26 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 19:19	418 MW	7	Met9
18 October at 19:18	371 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 19:12	59 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 19:04	461 MW	6	Met9
18 October at 19:03	486 MW	6	Met10
18 October at 19:02	16 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 18:52	12 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 18:49	338 MW	7	Met9
18 October at 18:48	617 MW	7	Met10
18 October at 18:42	83 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 18:34	109 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 18:33	378 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 18:32	83 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 18:22	22 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 18:18	259 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 18:12	91 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 18:04	87 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 18:03	273 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 18:02	33 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 17:52	48 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 17:49	155 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 17:48	343 MW	5	Met10
18 October at 17:42	73 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 17:34	51 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 17:33	183 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 17:32	43 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 17:12	223 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 16:33	141 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 15:18	71 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 14:52	25 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 14:42	27 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 14:32	14 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 14:25	114 MW	7	N21
18 October at 14:12	172 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 14:02	146 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 13:52	13 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 13:48	128 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 13:42	127 MW	15	N20
18 October at 13:33	196 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 13:32	294 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 13:22	176 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 13:21	229 MW	20	N
18 October at 13:18	575 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 13:18	339 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 13:12	1,021 MW	7	Met12
18 October at 13:03	182 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 13:03	193 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 13:02	155 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 12:52	423 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 12:48	364 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 12:48	683 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 12:33	80 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 12:32	31 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 12:22	412 MW	7	Met12
18 October at 12:18	205 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 12:12	146 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 12:03	69 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 12:02	139 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 11:52	58 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 11:48	112 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 11:42	156 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 11:33	165 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 11:33	299 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 11:32	242 MW	7	Met12
18 October at 11:22	65 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 11:18	174 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 11:12	98 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 11:03	196 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 11:02	80 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 10:52	33 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 10:48	207 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 10:48	335 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 10:42	260 MW	5	Met12
18 October at 10:33	216 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 10:33	110 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 10:32	126 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 10:22	41 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 10:18	190 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 10:12	103 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 10:03	395 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 10:03	514 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 10:02	380 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 09:52	190 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 09:48	356 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 09:48	226 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 09:42	91 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 09:33	157 MW	3	Met10
18 October at 09:32	142 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 09:22	212 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 09:18	270 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 09:18	251 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 09:12	110 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 09:03	187 MW	4	Met10
18 October at 09:03	79 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 09:02	72 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 08:52	16 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 08:42	18 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 08:32	18 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 08:22	15 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 08:12	15 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 08:02	14 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 07:52	14 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 07:42	12 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 07:32	18 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 07:17	40 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 06:02	10 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 05:33	42 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 05:33	49 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 05:32	12 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 05:22	16 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 05:18	93 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 05:18	49 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 05:12	22 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 05:03	53 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 05:03	102 MW	2	Met10
18 October at 05:02	30 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 04:52	10 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 04:48	42 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 04:42	26 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 04:33	41 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 03:48	47 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 03:18	45 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 03:15	9 MW	1	Aqua
18 October at 03:03	48 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 02:48	45 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 02:33	42 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 02:03	43 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 01:58	52 MW	26	N21
18 October at 01:16	36 MW	24	N20
18 October at 00:57	47 MW	21	N
18 October at 00:18	58 MW	19	N21
17 October at 20:51	41 MW	3	Terra
17 October at 14:02	29 MW	6	N20
17 October at 13:42	20 MW	3	N
17 October at 13:04	46 MW	2	N21
17 October at 01:33	2 MW	2	N20
17 October at 01:14	2 MW	2	N
17 October at 00:37	8 MW	7	N21

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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