Fire near Luapula (ZM)

11.34°S, 29.26°E · first detected on 22 September at 13:15

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 22 September at 13:15 to 21 October at 15:40, that is 29 days, through 1,648 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 43,330 ha.

Detected extent: 43,330 ha
Cumulative power: 15,224 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 143 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 1,648
Estimated emissions: 6.0 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 5 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). Published data stop on 20 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
21 October at 17:53	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:23	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:13	24 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 17:05	27 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 17:03	32 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:53	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:43	35 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 16:33	23 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:20	24 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:13	38 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 16:03	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:53	35 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 15:40	46 MW	4	Aqua
21 October at 15:33	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:13	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:05	61 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 15:05	73 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:03	60 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:33	23 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:29	84 MW	14	N20
21 October at 14:23	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:13	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:10	245 MW	30	N
21 October at 14:03	46 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:53	82 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 13:43	128 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:34	45 MW	7	N21
21 October at 13:13	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:53	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:49	34 MW	5	N20
21 October at 12:43	27 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:33	59 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:23	18 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:13	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:53	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:43	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:03	57 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 10:53	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:43	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 09:03	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 08:43	21 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:03	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:53	31 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:33	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:23	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:13	19 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:03	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:53	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:43	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:33	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:13	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:03	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:53	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:33	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:13	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:03	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 15:53	23 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:43	62 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:33	54 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:23	101 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:20	178 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 15:13	87 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:05	254 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 15:05	52 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:03	124 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 14:53	161 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 14:50	178 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 14:50	338 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 14:43	139 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 14:35	123 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 14:33	78 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:27	68 MW	15	N
20 October at 14:23	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:13	47 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 14:03	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:53	106 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:51	164 MW	19	N21
20 October at 13:43	108 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 13:35	135 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:33	151 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 13:13	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 13:08	49 MW	11	N20
20 October at 12:49	40 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:43	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:03	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:53	33 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:43	31 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:33	30 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:23	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:13	19 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 11:03	80 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 10:53	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:43	20 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:34	57 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 10:33	50 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:23	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:13	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:03	17 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 09:53	38 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 09:43	68 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 09:01	18 MW	1	Terra
19 October at 18:05	37 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 18:03	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 17:53	25 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 17:50	19 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 17:50	43 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 17:43	64 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 17:35	243 MW	9	Met9
19 October at 17:35	220 MW	7	Met10
19 October at 17:33	219 MW	11	Met12
19 October at 17:23	194 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 17:20	220 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 17:20	225 MW	5	Met10
19 October at 17:13	119 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 17:03	21 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:53	19 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:50	33 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:50	21 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 16:43	53 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:03	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:01	88 MW	8	Aqua
19 October at 15:53	39 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:50	41 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:43	17 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:35	23 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 15:33	11 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:23	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:13	11 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 14:23	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 14:13	16 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 14:10	58 MW	9	N21
19 October at 14:03	59 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 13:27	42 MW	7	N20
19 October at 13:08	10 MW	2	N
19 October at 12:33	65 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 12:03	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 11:23	63 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 11:19	41 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 10:33	24 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 10:23	41 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 10:19	36 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 10:19	84 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 10:13	16 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:43	15 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:33	26 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 09:23	51 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 08:22	57 MW	6	Terra
19 October at 00:52	0 MW	1	N20
18 October at 18:35	17 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 18:35	21 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 18:23	24 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 18:20	25 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 18:20	29 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 18:13	31 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 18:05	42 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 18:05	30 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 18:03	16 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 17:53	32 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 17:50	43 MW	2	Met9
18 October at 17:50	33 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 17:43	34 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 17:35	26 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 17:35	23 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 17:33	23 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 17:23	36 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 16:50	20 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 16:43	21 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 16:33	28 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 16:23	29 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 16:20	30 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 16:20	29 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 16:13	44 MW	3	Met12
18 October at 15:53	11 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 15:50	26 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 15:43	11 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 15:13	14 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 15:05	29 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 15:03	55 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 14:53	89 MW	4	Met12
18 October at 14:50	188 MW	5	Met9
18 October at 14:50	47 MW	1	Met10
18 October at 14:43	153 MW	7	Met12
18 October at 14:35	107 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 14:33	93 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 14:29	186 MW	11	N21
18 October at 14:23	72 MW	5	Met12
18 October at 14:13	86 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 14:05	30 MW	1	Met9
18 October at 14:03	73 MW	5	Met12
18 October at 13:53	136 MW	7	Met12
18 October at 13:50	138 MW	3	Met9
18 October at 13:47	83 MW	13	N20
18 October at 13:43	95 MW	6	Met12
18 October at 13:33	19 MW	1	Met12
18 October at 13:25	105 MW	14	N
18 October at 12:53	29 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 12:49	72 MW	4	N21
18 October at 11:33	30 MW	2	Met12
18 October at 09:43	11 MW	1	Met12
17 October at 14:04	87 MW	14	N20
17 October at 13:46	72 MW	13	N
17 October at 13:08	69 MW	9	N21
17 October at 08:42	32 MW	3	Terra
17 October at 01:29	1 MW	1	N20
17 October at 01:09	1 MW	1	N
16 October at 15:46	173 MW	13	Aqua
16 October at 14:23	86 MW	17	N20
16 October at 14:04	122 MW	11	N
16 October at 13:25	91 MW	12	N21
15 October at 14:21	174 MW	34	N
15 October at 13:47	252 MW	30	N21
15 October at 13:02	110 MW	15	N20
15 October at 01:12	3 MW	3	N21
14 October at 16:10	343 MW	24	Aqua
14 October at 14:42	94 MW	12	N
14 October at 14:04	316 MW	23	N21
14 October at 13:19	294 MW	35	N20
14 October at 13:02	232 MW	23	N
14 October at 08:25	14 MW	1	Terra
13 October at 15:31	46 MW	3	Aqua
13 October at 14:23	202 MW	7	N21
13 October at 13:40	168 MW	30	N20
12 October at 13:02	107 MW	7	N21
12 October at 08:44	127 MW	10	Terra
11 October at 15:55	100 MW	5	Aqua
11 October at 14:17	16 MW	4	N20
11 October at 13:57	44 MW	10	N
11 October at 13:19	20 MW	3	N21
10 October at 15:16	27 MW	1	Aqua
10 October at 14:36	46 MW	4	N20
10 October at 14:17	93 MW	12	N
10 October at 13:40	137 MW	21	N21
10 October at 12:56	31 MW	8	N20
10 October at 09:03	20 MW	1	Terra
9 October at 16:15	128 MW	7	Aqua
9 October at 14:34	238 MW	18	N
9 October at 13:57	329 MW	38	N21
9 October at 13:13	300 MW	41	N20
9 October at 12:53	107 MW	13	N
9 October at 08:25	134 MW	8	Terra
9 October at 02:01	1 MW	1	N
9 October at 01:24	1 MW	2	N21
8 October at 15:40	200 MW	12	Aqua
8 October at 14:17	311 MW	25	N21
8 October at 13:34	364 MW	32	N20
8 October at 13:15	430 MW	29	N
7 October at 13:51	86 MW	18	N20
7 October at 13:32	82 MW	11	N
7 October at 12:56	169 MW	19	N21
7 October at 08:46	34 MW	2	Terra
6 October at 15:59	9 MW	1	Aqua
5 October at 14:29	5 MW	1	N20
4 October at 14:27	46 MW	4	N
4 October at 13:51	64 MW	8	N21
4 October at 13:08	61 MW	13	N20
4 October at 08:27	64 MW	7	Terra
3 October at 14:10	5 MW	1	N21
3 October at 13:08	23 MW	4	N
2 October at 13:47	70 MW	15	N20
2 October at 13:25	9 MW	1	N
2 October at 08:46	10 MW	1	Terra
1 October at 16:08	94 MW	7	Aqua
1 October at 14:04	58 MW	10	N20
1 October at 13:45	84 MW	13	N
1 October at 13:08	72 MW	7	N21
1 October at 01:09	1 MW	2	N
1 October at 00:33	7 MW	2	N21
30 September at 15:29	14 MW	1	Aqua
30 September at 14:23	3 MW	1	N20
30 September at 14:04	113 MW	13	N
30 September at 13:26	68 MW	14	N21
30 September at 01:31	1 MW	2	N
29 September at 14:21	104 MW	25	N
29 September at 13:47	229 MW	27	N21
29 September at 13:02	14 MW	3	N20
28 September at 15:53	88 MW	6	Aqua
28 September at 14:04	99 MW	10	N21
28 September at 13:19	71 MW	6	N20
28 September at 01:29	2 MW	1	N21
27 September at 14:23	34 MW	2	N21
27 September at 13:40	7 MW	2	N20
26 September at 16:14	15 MW	1	Aqua
26 September at 13:57	125 MW	18	N20
26 September at 13:38	178 MW	23	N
26 September at 13:02	31 MW	9	N21
26 September at 01:24	2 MW	2	N20
25 September at 15:38	12 MW	1	Aqua
25 September at 14:17	137 MW	19	N20
25 September at 13:57	151 MW	25	N
25 September at 13:19	144 MW	17	N21
25 September at 09:09	66 MW	2	Terra
24 September at 14:36	18 MW	2	N20
24 September at 14:17	40 MW	6	N
24 September at 13:40	113 MW	16	N21
24 September at 12:56	12 MW	3	N20
24 September at 02:01	2 MW	2	N20
24 September at 01:41	5 MW	3	N
23 September at 15:59	29 MW	4	Aqua
23 September at 14:34	60 MW	8	N
23 September at 13:57	88 MW	13	N21
23 September at 13:13	125 MW	19	N20
23 September at 12:53	12 MW	2	N
23 September at 01:24	0 MW	1	N21

8 other fires near Luapula (ZM)

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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