Fire near Matabeleland septentrional (ZW)

18.44°S, 26.14°E · first detected on 13 October at 13:38

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 13 October at 13:38 to 23 October at 01:20, that is 9 days, through 643 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 8,281 ha.

Detected extent: 8,281 ha
Cumulative power: 5,898 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 102 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 643
Estimated emissions: 18.6 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 13 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.

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 12 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 01:20	7 MW	2	N20
22 October at 14:49	45 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 13:52	72 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 13:49	23 MW	1	N
22 October at 12:42	75 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 12:22	18 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 12:12	86 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 12:04	217 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 12:04	116 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 12:02	272 MW	9	Met12
22 October at 11:52	37 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:42	38 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 11:34	84 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 11:32	191 MW	6	Met12
22 October at 11:22	115 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:12	100 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 11:04	53 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 11:04	61 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 11:02	81 MW	5	Met12
22 October at 10:52	85 MW	4	Met12
22 October at 10:49	177 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 10:48	151 MW	2	Met10
22 October at 10:42	46 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:32	33 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:22	32 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 10:12	20 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:52	31 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 09:48	50 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 09:42	16 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:33	44 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 09:32	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:22	13 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 09:18	39 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 09:12	46 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 09:04	39 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 09:02	14 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:49	42 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 08:44	51 MW	5	Terra
22 October at 08:42	12 MW	1	Met12
22 October at 08:34	54 MW	1	Met10
22 October at 08:33	53 MW	1	Met9
22 October at 08:32	28 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 08:22	21 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 08:18	118 MW	2	Met9
22 October at 04:06	7 MW	1	Aqua
22 October at 02:52	41 MW	3	Met12
22 October at 02:49	137 MW	3	Met10
22 October at 02:49	125 MW	3	Met9
22 October at 02:42	54 MW	2	Met12
22 October at 02:22	32 MW	11	N21
22 October at 01:37	26 MW	13	N20
22 October at 01:18	18 MW	10	N
22 October at 00:42	31 MW	11	N21
21 October at 23:04	25 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 23:04	16 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 22:52	17 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 22:49	21 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 22:49	26 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 20:19	25 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 20:19	26 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 20:12	22 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 20:04	25 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 20:04	25 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 19:04	18 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 18:34	18 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 18:19	24 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 18:04	30 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 18:04	51 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 17:49	50 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 17:49	30 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 17:34	144 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 17:34	159 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 17:32	41 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 17:22	107 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 17:19	164 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 17:04	86 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 17:02	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:52	73 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:49	138 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:49	231 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 16:42	216 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 16:34	275 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 16:34	243 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 16:32	28 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:22	74 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 16:19	98 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:19	100 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:04	120 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 16:04	110 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 16:02	62 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:52	295 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 15:49	272 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 15:49	112 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 15:42	97 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:34	104 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:34	101 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 15:32	90 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 15:22	121 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 15:19	86 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 15:12	18 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:04	347 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 15:04	86 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 15:02	185 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:52	255 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 14:49	198 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 14:49	76 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 14:42	62 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:34	106 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:32	524 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 14:27	129 MW	6	N20
21 October at 14:22	336 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 14:12	487 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 14:08	408 MW	14	N
21 October at 14:02	530 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 13:42	157 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 13:32	59 MW	4	N21
21 October at 13:12	36 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:52	629 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 12:49	338 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 12:49	751 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 12:42	1,011 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 12:34	124 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:34	91 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:32	169 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 12:22	151 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 12:19	73 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:19	120 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:12	351 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 12:04	326 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 12:04	484 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 12:02	523 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 11:52	239 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 11:49	81 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 11:49	78 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:42	202 MW	10	Met12
21 October at 11:34	456 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 11:34	338 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 11:32	351 MW	12	Met12
21 October at 11:22	397 MW	15	Met12
21 October at 11:19	152 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 11:19	138 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 11:12	368 MW	13	Met12
21 October at 11:02	149 MW	8	Met12
21 October at 10:52	191 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 10:49	61 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 10:42	200 MW	10	Met12
21 October at 10:34	199 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 10:34	220 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 10:33	74 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 10:32	197 MW	9	Met12
21 October at 10:22	125 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 10:18	207 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 10:12	96 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 10:04	108 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 10:03	163 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 10:02	128 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 09:52	43 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 09:48	185 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 09:48	212 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 09:42	86 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 09:33	441 MW	5	Met10
21 October at 09:33	437 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 09:32	261 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 09:22	135 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 09:19	322 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 09:18	385 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 09:12	186 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 09:04	300 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 09:03	367 MW	4	Met9
21 October at 09:02	206 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 08:52	178 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 08:49	397 MW	4	Met10
21 October at 08:42	305 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 08:32	256 MW	7	Met12
21 October at 08:22	267 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 08:12	217 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 08:03	232 MW	4	Terra
21 October at 08:02	49 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 07:52	222 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 07:42	111 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 07:32	33 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 07:22	35 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 07:12	57 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 07:02	41 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 06:52	63 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 06:42	139 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 06:32	78 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 06:22	43 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 06:12	22 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 06:02	55 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 05:52	47 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 05:42	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 05:32	57 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 05:22	129 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 01:58	15 MW	12	N20
21 October at 01:37	18 MW	14	N
21 October at 00:59	45 MW	17	N21
20 October at 17:22	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:12	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:02	68 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 16:52	83 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 16:42	33 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:40	42 MW	1	Aqua
20 October at 16:32	83 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:22	214 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 16:12	51 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:04	101 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 16:02	46 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:52	47 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:49	105 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:49	106 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:42	38 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 15:34	58 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:12	12 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 15:02	47 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:52	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 14:46	68 MW	7	N20
20 October at 14:22	86 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 14:19	93 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:52	49 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 13:49	90 MW	8	N21
20 October at 13:49	78 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:42	30 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:34	72 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:32	29 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:22	78 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:19	89 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:12	76 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 13:06	89 MW	10	N20
20 October at 13:04	63 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:02	100 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 12:52	94 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 12:49	77 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:49	71 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:42	176 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 12:34	159 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:34	158 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 12:32	248 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 12:22	284 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:19	176 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 12:19	335 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 12:12	205 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 12:04	142 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:04	101 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:02	212 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 11:52	140 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 11:49	271 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:49	99 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 11:42	111 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:34	87 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 11:34	169 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 11:32	186 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:22	100 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:19	79 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 11:19	80 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:12	85 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:04	94 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:03	70 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 11:02	116 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:52	43 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 10:48	65 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 10:42	33 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:34	73 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:33	129 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:32	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:22	16 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 10:04	141 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 10:03	124 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 02:16	41 MW	18	N20
20 October at 01:56	7 MW	1	N
20 October at 01:20	30 MW	12	N21
19 October at 20:34	43 MW	2	Terra
19 October at 14:46	157 MW	12	N
19 October at 14:10	108 MW	4	N21
19 October at 13:25	68 MW	3	N20
19 October at 02:16	3 MW	2	N
19 October at 01:37	3 MW	3	N21
19 October at 00:54	3 MW	3	N20
18 October at 15:04	27 MW	5	N
18 October at 14:27	33 MW	3	N21
18 October at 13:45	18 MW	2	N20
18 October at 13:23	92 MW	11	N
18 October at 02:35	2 MW	2	N
18 October at 01:58	6 MW	4	N21
18 October at 01:14	10 MW	8	N20
18 October at 00:54	11 MW	7	N
17 October at 20:53	5 MW	1	Terra
17 October at 14:46	150 MW	12	N21
17 October at 14:02	80 MW	9	N20
17 October at 13:45	126 MW	13	N
17 October at 13:06	157 MW	14	N21
17 October at 08:44	38 MW	3	Terra
17 October at 02:16	16 MW	5	N21
17 October at 01:31	51 MW	9	N20
17 October at 01:12	14 MW	7	N
17 October at 00:35	3 MW	2	N21
16 October at 14:21	19 MW	2	N20
16 October at 14:02	14 MW	2	N
16 October at 13:25	20 MW	3	N21
16 October at 08:08	150 MW	2	Terra
16 October at 03:37	14 MW	1	Aqua
16 October at 01:31	3 MW	1	N
16 October at 00:54	21 MW	5	N21
15 October at 16:44	61 MW	1	Aqua
15 October at 14:40	178 MW	21	N20
15 October at 14:19	328 MW	15	N
15 October at 13:45	189 MW	13	N21
15 October at 09:05	25 MW	1	Terra
15 October at 02:09	19 MW	12	N20
15 October at 01:50	37 MW	15	N
15 October at 01:14	28 MW	10	N21
14 October at 20:36	82 MW	3	Terra
14 October at 16:08	95 MW	3	Aqua
14 October at 14:40	66 MW	7	N
14 October at 14:02	42 MW	3	N21
14 October at 13:17	59 MW	10	N20
14 October at 08:27	59 MW	3	Terra
14 October at 03:58	55 MW	4	Aqua
14 October at 02:28	61 MW	13	N20
14 October at 02:07	136 MW	39	N
14 October at 01:31	369 MW	41	N21
14 October at 00:48	118 MW	45	N20
13 October at 21:34	93 MW	3	Terra
13 October at 15:29	239 MW	3	Aqua
13 October at 14:57	318 MW	17	N
13 October at 14:21	146 MW	9	N21
13 October at 13:38	170 MW	8	N20

8 other fires near Matabeleland septentrional (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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