Fire near Lusaka (ZM)

14.84°S, 30.00°E · first detected on 16 October at 10:23

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 16 October at 10:23 to 22 October at 01:37, that is 6 days, through 339 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 4,715 ha.

Detected extent: 4,715 ha
Cumulative power: 2,247 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 64 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 339
Estimated emissions: 5.2 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 16 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).

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 8 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 01:18	32 MW	18	N20
23 October at 00:59	9 MW	4	N
23 October at 00:22	5 MW	1	N21
22 October at 20:53	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 20:53	23 MW	2	Terra
22 October at 17:33	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 17:20	22 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 17:13	37 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 17:05	27 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 17:04	27 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 17:03	65 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 16:53	13 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:50	28 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 16:43	32 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 16:35	33 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 16:33	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:23	147 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 16:20	45 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 16:19	35 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 16:16	104 MW	5	Aqua
22 October at 16:13	67 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 16:04	37 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 16:04	60 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 16:03	104 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 15:53	41 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 15:49	34 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 15:49	36 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 15:43	37 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 15:34	40 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 15:34	43 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 15:33	56 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 15:23	27 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 15:19	157 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 15:19	108 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 15:13	118 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 15:04	183 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 15:04	67 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 15:03	64 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 14:53	224 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 14:49	297 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 14:49	196 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 14:43	98 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 14:34	254 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 14:34	236 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 14:33	242 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 14:23	227 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 14:19	313 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 14:19	198 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 14:13	291 MW	11	Met12
22 October at 14:10	843 MW	73	N20
22 October at 14:04	310 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 14:04	241 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 14:03	145 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 13:53	83 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:49	177 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 13:49	632 MW	87	N
22 October at 13:49	254 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:43	100 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:34	292 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:34	339 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 13:33	164 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 13:23	197 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 13:19	203 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:19	189 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 13:15	667 MW	86	N21
22 October at 13:13	121 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 13:04	194 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 13:04	333 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 13:03	171 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 12:53	241 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 12:49	409 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 12:49	299 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 12:43	429 MW	9	Met12
22 October at 12:34	262 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 12:34	158 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 12:33	290 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 12:23	337 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 12:19	676 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 12:19	725 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 12:13	385 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 12:04	438 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 12:04	578 MW	6	Met10
22 October at 12:03	461 MW	13	Met12
22 October at 11:53	285 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 11:49	344 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 11:49	295 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:43	289 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 11:34	147 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:34	67 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:33	85 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 11:23	168 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 11:19	118 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:19	57 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:13	145 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 11:04	122 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 11:04	126 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 11:03	80 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 10:53	191 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 10:49	486 MW	5	Met10
22 October at 10:49	397 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 10:43	193 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 10:34	232 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 10:34	94 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:33	230 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 10:23	246 MW	11	Met12
22 October at 10:19	46 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:13	106 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 10:04	45 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:03	102 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 09:53	21 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:13	18 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:03	10 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:53	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:42	57 MW	5	Terra
22 October at 08:13	10 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 01:37	66 MW	23	N20
22 October at 01:18	55 MW	25	N
22 October at 00:40	38 MW	19	N21
21 October at 17:05	18 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:53	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:50	34 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:43	27 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:35	54 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:34	33 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 16:33	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:23	27 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:20	51 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:13	48 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 16:04	114 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 16:04	64 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:03	72 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 15:53	54 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:49	77 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:49	38 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 15:43	70 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:40	235 MW	13	Aqua
21 October at 15:34	126 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:34	129 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:33	102 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:23	268 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 15:19	267 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 15:19	291 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 15:13	120 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 15:04	102 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:04	100 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:03	90 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:53	178 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:49	109 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:49	168 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 14:43	150 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:34	429 MW	6	Met9
21 October at 14:34	401 MW	5	Met10
21 October at 14:33	207 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:27	208 MW	29	N20
21 October at 14:23	279 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:19	532 MW	8	Met9
21 October at 14:19	343 MW	5	Met10
21 October at 14:13	147 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:10	600 MW	76	N
21 October at 14:04	286 MW	6	Met9
21 October at 14:04	215 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 14:03	90 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 13:53	119 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:49	297 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 13:49	129 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:43	128 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 13:34	129 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:34	180 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:33	142 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:32	755 MW	85	N21
21 October at 13:23	169 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 13:19	120 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:19	285 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 13:13	125 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 13:04	113 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:04	238 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 13:03	56 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:53	69 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:49	108 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:49	112 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:47	237 MW	30	N20
21 October at 12:43	121 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:34	245 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:34	113 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:33	94 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:23	124 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 12:19	68 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:19	67 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:13	140 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:04	221 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 12:04	171 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:03	203 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 11:53	105 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 11:49	59 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 11:49	40 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:43	109 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 11:34	34 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:33	86 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 11:23	123 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 11:19	60 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:13	48 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 11:03	42 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:53	35 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:43	54 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:33	45 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:23	54 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 10:13	18 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:03	40 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 09:53	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 08:53	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 01:56	41 MW	21	N20
21 October at 01:35	96 MW	40	N
21 October at 01:01	103 MW	28	N21
20 October at 20:53	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:43	42 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 20:33	48 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:23	28 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:13	25 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:03	23 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:53	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:43	35 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 19:33	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:23	23 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 19:13	38 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 19:03	27 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:53	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:43	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:13	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:03	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:53	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:33	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:23	84 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 17:13	87 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 17:03	101 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 16:53	193 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 16:43	127 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 16:33	149 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 16:23	216 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 16:13	233 MW	17	Met12
20 October at 16:04	126 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 16:03	214 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 15:53	130 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 15:49	95 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:49	102 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 15:43	146 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 15:34	355 MW	9	Met9
20 October at 15:34	175 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:33	305 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 15:23	316 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 15:19	291 MW	5	Met10
20 October at 15:19	273 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:13	228 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 15:04	223 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 15:04	252 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:03	294 MW	15	Met12
20 October at 14:53	280 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 14:49	221 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 14:49	235 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 14:43	375 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 14:34	236 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 14:34	355 MW	8	Met9
20 October at 14:33	276 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 14:27	654 MW	86	N
20 October at 14:23	566 MW	18	Met12
20 October at 14:19	568 MW	5	Met10
20 October at 14:19	724 MW	8	Met9
20 October at 14:13	411 MW	18	Met12
20 October at 14:04	92 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 14:03	170 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 13:53	205 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 13:49	1,060 MW	104	N21
20 October at 13:49	137 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:43	135 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:34	197 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 13:34	77 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:33	247 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 13:23	379 MW	15	Met12
20 October at 13:19	139 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:19	56 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:13	118 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:08	622 MW	105	N20
20 October at 13:04	56 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:04	205 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 13:03	172 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:53	293 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 12:49	180 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:49	70 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:43	455 MW	17	Met12
20 October at 12:34	58 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:34	74 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:33	229 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 12:23	198 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 12:19	154 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:19	70 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:13	232 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 12:04	200 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 12:04	54 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:03	204 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 11:53	246 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 11:49	209 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:49	192 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:43	243 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 11:34	221 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:34	209 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:33	231 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 11:23	225 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 11:19	50 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:19	119 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 11:13	309 MW	16	Met12
20 October at 11:04	171 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:04	172 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:03	220 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 10:53	339 MW	16	Met12
20 October at 10:49	214 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 10:49	236 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 10:43	158 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 10:34	56 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:34	117 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:33	89 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 10:23	69 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 10:19	55 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 10:13	55 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:04	133 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:04	115 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 10:03	96 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 09:53	48 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 09:49	42 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 09:43	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 09:34	176 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 09:33	80 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 09:23	32 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 09:13	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 08:53	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 08:43	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 08:33	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 07:53	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 02:16	7 MW	4	N20
20 October at 01:56	39 MW	21	N
20 October at 01:18	71 MW	37	N21
20 October at 00:33	19 MW	7	N20
19 October at 20:34	9 MW	1	Terra
19 October at 16:01	226 MW	16	Aqua
19 October at 14:46	25 MW	3	N
19 October at 14:10	323 MW	43	N21
19 October at 13:25	393 MW	50	N20
19 October at 13:06	302 MW	46	N
19 October at 08:25	47 MW	4	Terra
19 October at 01:37	20 MW	14	N21
19 October at 00:54	22 MW	11	N20
19 October at 00:33	1 MW	1	N
18 October at 14:27	111 MW	11	N21
18 October at 13:45	316 MW	45	N20
18 October at 13:25	172 MW	28	N
18 October at 12:47	161 MW	23	N21
18 October at 01:56	4 MW	2	N21
18 October at 01:12	14 MW	12	N20
18 October at 00:52	4 MW	4	N
17 October at 20:56	14 MW	2	Terra
17 October at 14:04	333 MW	46	N20
17 October at 13:45	317 MW	52	N
17 October at 13:08	188 MW	24	N21
17 October at 01:31	13 MW	10	N20
17 October at 01:12	5 MW	4	N
17 October at 00:33	4 MW	2	N21
16 October at 15:46	186 MW	9	Aqua
16 October at 14:21	197 MW	30	N20
16 October at 14:02	409 MW	55	N
16 October at 13:25	521 MW	60	N21
16 October at 03:34	9 MW	1	Aqua
16 October at 01:50	10 MW	4	N20
16 October at 01:29	18 MW	16	N
16 October at 00:54	13 MW	9	N21
15 October at 14:21	81 MW	9	N
15 October at 13:45	185 MW	26	N21
15 October at 13:00	31 MW	9	N20
15 October at 02:07	1 MW	2	N20
15 October at 01:50	1 MW	2	N

8 other fires near Lusaka (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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