Fire near Lusaka (ZM)

15.35°S, 29.95°E · first detected on 20 October at 12:53

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 20 October at 12:53 to 22 October at 01:37, that is 2 days, through 86 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 1,193 ha.

Detected extent: 1,193 ha
Cumulative power: 728 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 35 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 86
Estimated emissions: 1.1 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 20 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 4 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	47 MW	21	N20
23 October at 00:59	33 MW	7	N
23 October at 00:22	27 MW	3	N21
22 October at 20:53	6 MW	1	Terra
22 October at 16:43	25 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 16:34	76 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 16:34	48 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 16:33	30 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 16:23	85 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 16:19	194 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 16:19	178 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 16:16	152 MW	4	Aqua
22 October at 16:13	65 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 16:04	154 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 16:04	133 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 16:03	110 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 15:53	104 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 15:49	276 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 15:49	266 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 15:43	153 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 15:34	181 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 15:34	150 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 15:33	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 15:23	47 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 15:19	174 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 15:19	160 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 15:13	105 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 15:04	110 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 15:04	199 MW	5	Met9
22 October at 15:03	56 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:53	91 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 14:49	237 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 14:49	326 MW	6	Met9
22 October at 14:43	54 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:34	130 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 14:34	48 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 14:33	69 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 14:23	42 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:19	146 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 14:19	146 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 14:13	72 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 14:10	301 MW	42	N20
22 October at 14:04	368 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 14:04	304 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 14:03	89 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 13:53	37 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 13:49	370 MW	64	N
22 October at 13:49	78 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 13:49	56 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 13:43	53 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 13:34	89 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 13:34	120 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 13:33	83 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 13:23	44 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 13:19	250 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:19	100 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 13:15	536 MW	56	N21
22 October at 13:13	201 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 13:04	406 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 13:04	358 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 13:03	319 MW	15	Met12
22 October at 12:53	128 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 12:49	56 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 12:49	88 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 12:43	144 MW	7	Met12
22 October at 12:34	116 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 12:34	150 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 12:33	144 MW	8	Met12
22 October at 12:23	153 MW	9	Met12
22 October at 12:19	148 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 12:19	205 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 12:13	247 MW	12	Met12
22 October at 12:04	298 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 12:04	355 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 12:03	205 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 11:53	205 MW	10	Met12
22 October at 11:49	254 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 11:49	286 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 11:43	153 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 11:34	336 MW	4	Met9
22 October at 11:34	429 MW	4	Met10
22 October at 11:33	279 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 11:23	113 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 11:19	169 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 11:19	235 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 11:13	77 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 11:04	208 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 11:04	134 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 11:03	80 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 10:53	104 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 10:49	96 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:49	146 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 10:43	30 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:34	67 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:34	81 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:33	33 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:23	79 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 10:19	55 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:19	63 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:13	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 10:04	75 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 10:04	55 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 10:03	32 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 09:33	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:03	22 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 08:42	11 MW	1	Terra
22 October at 01:37	30 MW	13	N20
22 October at 01:18	35 MW	14	N
22 October at 00:40	20 MW	11	N21
21 October at 20:13	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:23	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:05	60 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 17:04	36 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 17:03	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:53	27 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:50	107 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:49	91 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:43	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:35	36 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:34	30 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:34	45 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 16:33	52 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:23	37 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:19	144 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 16:19	124 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 16:13	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:04	99 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:04	77 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:03	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:53	38 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:49	101 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:49	92 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:43	17 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:40	129 MW	8	Aqua
21 October at 15:34	110 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:34	97 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:33	49 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 15:23	121 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 15:19	226 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 15:19	237 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 15:13	124 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 15:04	197 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:04	159 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:03	153 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 14:53	59 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:49	234 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 14:49	220 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 14:43	123 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 14:34	174 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:34	249 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 14:33	79 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:27	120 MW	17	N20
21 October at 14:23	75 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:19	250 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 14:19	379 MW	6	Met9
21 October at 14:13	109 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:10	560 MW	70	N
21 October at 14:04	202 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 14:04	289 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 14:03	219 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 13:53	238 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 13:49	368 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 13:49	269 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 13:43	278 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 13:34	194 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:34	197 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 13:33	143 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 13:32	684 MW	79	N21
21 October at 13:23	275 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 13:19	237 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 13:19	330 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 13:13	129 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 13:04	130 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:04	296 MW	5	Met9
21 October at 13:03	118 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 12:53	72 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:49	103 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:49	126 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:47	219 MW	24	N20
21 October at 12:43	159 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 12:34	127 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:34	252 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:33	77 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:23	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:13	316 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 12:04	68 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:04	80 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:03	198 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 11:53	124 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 11:49	55 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:43	106 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 11:34	62 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 11:34	49 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:33	123 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 11:23	103 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 11:13	56 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 11:04	54 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:03	42 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:53	29 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:43	56 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 10:33	34 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 10:23	85 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 10:13	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:03	66 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 09:53	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:43	52 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 09:23	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:03	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 08:53	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 08:43	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 01:56	45 MW	21	N20
21 October at 01:35	90 MW	41	N
21 October at 01:01	76 MW	22	N21
20 October at 20:53	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:43	31 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:33	20 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:23	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:13	35 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:03	35 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 19:43	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:33	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:23	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 19:13	15 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:43	20 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:33	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:23	56 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 17:13	87 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 17:03	45 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:53	125 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 16:43	113 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 16:33	142 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 16:23	122 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 16:13	109 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 16:04	171 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 16:03	120 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 15:53	99 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 15:49	197 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 15:49	135 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:43	87 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:34	123 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:34	226 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:33	105 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:23	169 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 15:19	202 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:19	272 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:13	135 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 15:04	137 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:04	163 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 15:03	155 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 14:53	107 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:49	122 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 14:49	149 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 14:43	228 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 14:34	179 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 14:34	239 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 14:33	165 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 14:27	517 MW	74	N
20 October at 14:23	444 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 14:19	574 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 14:19	531 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 14:13	214 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 14:04	88 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 14:03	172 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 13:53	196 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 13:49	741 MW	81	N21
20 October at 13:49	89 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 13:43	216 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 13:34	137 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:33	197 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 13:23	207 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 13:19	169 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 13:19	264 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 13:13	139 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 13:08	446 MW	64	N20
20 October at 13:04	123 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 13:04	213 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 13:03	185 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:53	292 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 12:49	157 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:43	378 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 12:34	58 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:34	74 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:33	231 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 12:23	161 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 12:13	201 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 12:04	200 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 12:04	54 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:03	176 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:53	200 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 11:49	192 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:49	157 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 11:43	228 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 11:34	221 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:34	209 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:33	164 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:23	155 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:19	119 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 11:19	50 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:13	211 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 11:04	171 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:04	172 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 11:03	139 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 10:53	271 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 10:49	236 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 10:49	214 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 10:43	93 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:34	117 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:34	56 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:33	60 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:23	69 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 10:19	55 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 10:13	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:04	133 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:04	115 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 10:03	103 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 09:53	86 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 09:49	81 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 09:49	36 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 09:43	75 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 09:33	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 09:13	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 08:53	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 07:53	18 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 02:16	28 MW	7	N20
20 October at 01:56	37 MW	17	N
20 October at 01:18	52 MW	25	N21
20 October at 00:33	20 MW	8	N20
19 October at 16:01	175 MW	13	Aqua
19 October at 14:46	48 MW	6	N
19 October at 14:10	205 MW	30	N21
19 October at 13:25	236 MW	29	N20
19 October at 13:06	182 MW	30	N
19 October at 08:25	7 MW	1	Terra
19 October at 02:13	1 MW	1	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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