Fire near Mashonaland occidental (ZW)

16.87°S, 29.10°E · first detected on 3 October at 14:10

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 3 October at 14:10 to 22 October at 13:49, that is 19 days, through 1,057 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 15,929 ha.

Detected extent: 15,929 ha
Cumulative power: 8,729 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 85 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 1,057
Estimated emissions: 8.1 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 5 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). Published data stop on 21 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.

Before, after: the burn scar seen from space

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the same area near Mashonaland occidental (ZW) during the fire, on 20 October 2026

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the area near Mashonaland occidental (ZW) before the fire, on 27 September 2026

Before · 27 September 2026During · 20 October 2026

Sentinel-2, 10 m resolution. No sufficiently clear pass has followed the fire going out yet: the second image was taken DURING the fire, so the burn scar had not finished spreading. It will be replaced automatically at the first clear sky. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel-2 data (2026).

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 21 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
22 October at 19:12	13 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 16:34	39 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 16:32	38 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 14:10	45 MW	6	N20
22 October at 13:49	26 MW	5	N
22 October at 13:13	17 MW	1	N21
22 October at 11:12	11 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 10:52	25 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:22	17 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:42	37 MW	3	Terra
22 October at 05:12	10 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 01:37	36 MW	19	N20
22 October at 01:18	33 MW	15	N
22 October at 00:42	42 MW	17	N21
21 October at 17:42	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:32	21 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:32	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:22	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:02	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:52	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:49	43 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:49	35 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 15:42	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:40	31 MW	1	Aqua
21 October at 15:34	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:32	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:22	73 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 15:19	48 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:12	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:04	75 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:04	91 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 15:02	61 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:52	83 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:49	49 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 14:42	91 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:34	227 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 14:32	168 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:27	246 MW	27	N20
21 October at 14:22	115 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:19	64 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 14:12	189 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:08	209 MW	18	N
21 October at 14:02	65 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:52	102 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:42	136 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 13:34	107 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:32	270 MW	14	N21
21 October at 13:32	340 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 13:22	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:12	106 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 13:04	48 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:02	33 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:52	85 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:42	31 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:32	81 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:22	44 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 12:04	122 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:04	60 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:02	66 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 11:52	169 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 11:49	177 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 11:49	76 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:42	56 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 11:32	81 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 11:22	26 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:32	17 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:22	23 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:12	24 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 09:42	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:32	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:22	41 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 09:19	31 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 09:12	43 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 09:02	76 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 08:52	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 08:49	88 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 08:42	40 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 08:32	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 08:03	45 MW	2	Terra
21 October at 08:02	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 07:42	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 01:56	50 MW	18	N20
21 October at 01:37	80 MW	34	N
21 October at 00:59	60 MW	19	N21
20 October at 21:42	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 21:15	26 MW	2	Terra
20 October at 20:22	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:12	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:52	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:32	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 16:02	21 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:52	58 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:49	34 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:42	52 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 15:34	102 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:34	84 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:32	128 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 15:22	81 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:19	69 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:12	40 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 15:04	77 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:04	106 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:02	93 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 14:52	130 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 14:49	52 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 14:42	140 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:32	82 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:27	184 MW	32	N
20 October at 14:22	121 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 14:19	300 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 14:19	357 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 14:12	196 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:04	138 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 14:04	120 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 14:02	169 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 13:52	78 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 13:49	249 MW	19	N21
20 October at 13:42	28 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:32	86 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 13:22	88 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:12	73 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:06	231 MW	34	N20
20 October at 13:02	45 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:52	52 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:49	32 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:42	27 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:34	38 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:34	52 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:32	62 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 12:22	40 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 12:12	43 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 12:04	97 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:04	72 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:02	109 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:52	72 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 11:42	44 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 11:34	61 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:32	52 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 11:22	142 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:12	24 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:02	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:49	58 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:32	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:12	21 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 09:52	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 09:12	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 09:02	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 08:52	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 02:16	9 MW	4	N20
20 October at 01:56	15 MW	11	N
20 October at 01:20	20 MW	13	N21
20 October at 00:35	5 MW	3	N20
19 October at 17:32	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 17:19	32 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:52	21 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:49	25 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 16:49	27 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:42	23 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:34	44 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 16:32	28 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:22	24 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:12	34 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:02	39 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 16:01	103 MW	9	Aqua
19 October at 15:52	42 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:42	80 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:34	34 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 15:32	26 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:22	63 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:12	96 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 15:04	119 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 15:04	82 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:02	272 MW	10	Met12
19 October at 14:52	87 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 14:49	81 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 14:49	119 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:46	188 MW	14	N
19 October at 14:42	41 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:32	154 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 14:22	254 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 14:12	182 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 14:10	507 MW	27	N21
19 October at 14:04	128 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 14:04	267 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 14:02	302 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 13:52	192 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 13:49	32 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 13:42	100 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 13:34	49 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:34	45 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 13:32	156 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 13:25	541 MW	31	N20
19 October at 13:22	157 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 13:19	47 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:12	113 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 13:06	192 MW	24	N
19 October at 13:04	131 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 13:04	66 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:02	100 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 12:52	115 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 12:49	78 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 12:42	92 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 12:34	76 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 12:34	41 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 12:32	143 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 12:22	155 MW	9	Met12
19 October at 12:19	80 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 12:19	64 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 12:12	137 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 12:04	215 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 12:04	167 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 12:02	237 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 11:52	281 MW	11	Met12
19 October at 11:49	135 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 11:49	178 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 11:42	199 MW	9	Met12
19 October at 11:32	79 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 11:22	64 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 11:12	38 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 11:02	28 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 10:52	22 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 10:22	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 10:12	16 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 10:02	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:52	45 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 09:49	45 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 09:49	68 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:42	52 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 09:34	89 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 09:34	61 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:32	57 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 09:12	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:02	23 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 08:52	67 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 08:42	41 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 08:32	21 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 08:25	37 MW	3	Terra
19 October at 08:22	18 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 08:12	46 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 08:04	31 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 08:02	41 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 07:42	23 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 07:34	94 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 07:33	209 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 07:32	214 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 07:22	14 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 07:19	62 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 06:42	23 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 04:22	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 03:52	9 MW	1	Aqua
19 October at 02:13	7 MW	7	N
19 October at 01:37	18 MW	10	N21
19 October at 00:54	9 MW	7	N20
19 October at 00:33	1 MW	1	N
18 October at 14:27	63 MW	7	N21
18 October at 13:45	145 MW	16	N20
18 October at 13:23	287 MW	18	N
18 October at 12:47	112 MW	10	N21
18 October at 01:56	4 MW	4	N21
18 October at 01:12	13 MW	10	N20
18 October at 00:54	6 MW	5	N
17 October at 14:04	77 MW	7	N20
17 October at 13:45	77 MW	11	N
17 October at 13:06	133 MW	10	N21
17 October at 01:31	109 MW	32	N20
17 October at 01:12	62 MW	16	N
17 October at 00:33	83 MW	25	N21
16 October at 15:44	26 MW	2	Aqua
16 October at 14:21	209 MW	33	N20
16 October at 14:02	305 MW	32	N
16 October at 13:25	256 MW	20	N21
16 October at 03:34	6 MW	1	Aqua
16 October at 01:50	38 MW	24	N20
16 October at 01:29	36 MW	24	N
16 October at 00:54	37 MW	25	N21
15 October at 21:15	15 MW	1	Terra
15 October at 14:40	97 MW	5	N20
15 October at 14:21	173 MW	7	N
15 October at 13:45	212 MW	13	N21
15 October at 13:00	253 MW	16	N20
15 October at 02:09	47 MW	12	N20
15 October at 01:50	46 MW	20	N
15 October at 01:12	95 MW	25	N21
15 October at 00:27	41 MW	14	N20
14 October at 16:08	23 MW	3	Aqua
14 October at 14:40	47 MW	5	N
14 October at 14:04	369 MW	18	N21
14 October at 13:19	242 MW	10	N20
14 October at 13:00	30 MW	4	N
14 October at 08:25	15 MW	2	Terra
14 October at 02:07	5 MW	6	N
14 October at 01:31	9 MW	8	N21
14 October at 00:48	8 MW	8	N20
13 October at 14:21	265 MW	18	N21
13 October at 13:38	340 MW	31	N20
12 October at 13:00	3 MW	1	N21
12 October at 02:09	53 MW	11	N21
12 October at 01:26	32 MW	18	N20
12 October at 01:05	42 MW	14	N
12 October at 00:29	25 MW	10	N21
11 October at 15:53	223 MW	10	Aqua
11 October at 14:17	320 MW	27	N20
11 October at 13:55	416 MW	32	N
11 October at 13:19	399 MW	24	N21
11 October at 08:08	18 MW	1	Terra
11 October at 01:44	29 MW	15	N20
11 October at 01:24	19 MW	18	N
11 October at 00:48	15 MW	7	N21
10 October at 14:34	44 MW	4	N20
10 October at 14:14	32 MW	7	N
10 October at 13:38	77 MW	8	N21
10 October at 12:53	14 MW	2	N20
10 October at 02:01	7 MW	3	N20
10 October at 01:05	15 MW	11	N21
9 October at 20:36	6 MW	1	Terra
9 October at 14:34	3 MW	1	N
9 October at 13:55	49 MW	5	N21
9 October at 13:10	34 MW	4	N20
9 October at 08:27	9 MW	1	Terra
9 October at 01:26	1 MW	2	N21
9 October at 00:42	2 MW	3	N20
7 October at 13:49	21 MW	2	N20
7 October at 01:18	7 MW	1	N20
5 October at 14:27	23 MW	4	N20
5 October at 14:08	22 MW	6	N
5 October at 13:32	47 MW	7	N21
5 October at 00:59	1 MW	1	N21
4 October at 16:22	15 MW	1	Aqua
4 October at 14:27	131 MW	27	N
4 October at 13:49	339 MW	25	N21
4 October at 13:06	245 MW	27	N20
4 October at 08:29	5 MW	1	Terra
3 October at 14:10	7 MW	1	N21

8 other fires near Mashonaland occidental (ZW)

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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