Fire near Matabeleland septentrional (ZW)

19.73°S, 27.91°E · first detected on 18 October at 13:23

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 18 October at 13:23 to 21 October at 14:27, that is 3 days, through 264 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 3,520 ha.

Detected extent: 3,520 ha
Cumulative power: 5,390 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 138 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 264
Estimated emissions: 8.0 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 18 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 6 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 17:42	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:22	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:34	33 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 16:12	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:02	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:52	21 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:42	27 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 15:02	21 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:52	44 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:42	66 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:32	71 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:27	131 MW	9	N20
21 October at 14:22	206 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 14:19	174 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 14:12	140 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 14:08	137 MW	5	N
21 October at 14:04	273 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 14:04	304 MW	3	Met10
21 October at 14:02	175 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 13:52	150 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 13:49	259 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:49	178 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 13:42	133 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:34	124 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:34	232 MW	2	Met10
21 October at 13:32	230 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:32	269 MW	10	N21
21 October at 13:22	179 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 13:19	179 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 13:19	253 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:12	304 MW	6	Met12
21 October at 13:04	190 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 13:04	104 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 13:02	136 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:52	139 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 12:49	214 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:48	137 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 12:42	151 MW	5	Met12
21 October at 12:32	56 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 12:22	52 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:48	102 MW	1	Met10
21 October at 10:33	106 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 21:52	10 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 21:42	33 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 21:32	48 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 21:22	81 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 21:13	182 MW	7	Terra
20 October at 21:12	29 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 21:02	19 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 20:52	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:32	47 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 20:22	56 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:12	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 20:02	36 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:22	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:12	31 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:02	21 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:42	41 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:32	123 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 17:22	276 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 17:12	363 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 17:02	1,136 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 16:52	620 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 16:02	256 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 15:52	314 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:49	73 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 15:49	596 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 15:42	230 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 15:34	375 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:32	137 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:22	287 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:19	539 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:19	170 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 15:12	413 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:04	287 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 15:02	405 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 14:52	1,222 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 14:46	314 MW	11	N20
20 October at 14:42	328 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:32	217 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:25	604 MW	30	N
20 October at 14:22	266 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:12	280 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 14:02	108 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 13:52	388 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 13:49	345 MW	14	N21
20 October at 13:42	355 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:32	831 MW	10	Met12
20 October at 13:22	315 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:19	87 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:12	471 MW	12	Met12
20 October at 13:06	169 MW	18	N20
20 October at 13:04	114 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 13:03	166 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 13:02	225 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 12:52	462 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 12:49	107 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:42	63 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 12:34	295 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:33	208 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:32	298 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 12:22	262 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 12:19	290 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:18	218 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 12:12	395 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:04	435 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:03	647 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 12:02	476 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:52	227 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:49	536 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:48	481 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 11:42	376 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 11:33	404 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 11:33	341 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 11:32	367 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 11:22	757 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 11:18	742 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 11:18	576 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 11:12	870 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 11:03	1,081 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 11:03	1,114 MW	5	Met10
20 October at 11:02	1,063 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 10:52	1,220 MW	15	Met12
20 October at 10:48	635 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 10:42	908 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 10:33	329 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 10:33	1,567 MW	6	Met9
20 October at 10:32	1,121 MW	15	Met12
20 October at 10:22	719 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 10:18	673 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 10:18	470 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 10:12	259 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 10:03	1,168 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 10:03	707 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 10:02	889 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 09:52	1,135 MW	13	Met12
20 October at 09:48	1,066 MW	5	Met10
20 October at 09:48	1,878 MW	6	Met9
20 October at 09:42	801 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 09:33	1,451 MW	7	Met10
20 October at 09:33	1,448 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 09:32	1,018 MW	14	Met12
20 October at 09:22	517 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 09:18	436 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 09:18	490 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 09:12	491 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 09:03	554 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 09:03	608 MW	8	Terra
20 October at 09:03	450 MW	4	Met10
20 October at 09:02	399 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 08:52	283 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 08:48	492 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 08:48	410 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 08:42	358 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 08:33	357 MW	3	Met10
20 October at 08:32	159 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 08:22	226 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 08:18	228 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 08:18	325 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 08:12	58 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 08:03	201 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 08:03	95 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 08:02	87 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 07:52	46 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 07:48	117 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 07:42	53 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 07:33	58 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 07:33	95 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 07:32	55 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 07:22	33 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 07:18	37 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 07:12	22 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 07:03	31 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 07:02	13 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 06:48	25 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 01:56	3 MW	1	N
19 October at 22:19	16 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 22:12	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 19:34	23 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 19:34	41 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 19:19	13 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:52	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 16:49	25 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:04	63 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 16:04	122 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 15:52	53 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:49	45 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 15:49	59 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 15:42	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:34	99 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 15:34	78 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:19	82 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:19	101 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 15:12	28 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:04	59 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 15:04	55 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 15:02	24 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 14:52	20 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 14:49	269 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 14:49	171 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:46	159 MW	21	N
19 October at 14:42	37 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 14:34	175 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:34	177 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 14:32	153 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 14:22	73 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:19	144 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:19	118 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:12	94 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 14:08	197 MW	20	N21
19 October at 14:04	172 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 14:04	189 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 14:02	163 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 13:52	238 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 13:49	176 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 13:49	267 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 13:42	273 MW	12	Met12
19 October at 13:34	213 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 13:34	332 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 13:32	203 MW	10	Met12
19 October at 13:23	203 MW	21	N20
19 October at 13:22	267 MW	12	Met12
19 October at 13:19	256 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 13:19	383 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 13:12	334 MW	11	Met12
19 October at 13:04	78 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:04	549 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 13:04	242 MW	19	N
19 October at 13:03	435 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 13:02	414 MW	12	Met12
19 October at 12:52	310 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 12:49	366 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 12:48	243 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 12:42	213 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 12:34	312 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 12:33	225 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 12:32	232 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 12:22	370 MW	9	Met12
19 October at 12:19	555 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 12:18	516 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 12:12	357 MW	11	Met12
19 October at 12:04	643 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 12:03	563 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 12:02	512 MW	11	Met12
19 October at 11:52	464 MW	10	Met12
19 October at 11:48	414 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 11:48	407 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 11:42	191 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 11:33	369 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 11:33	399 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 11:32	285 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 11:22	386 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 11:18	412 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 11:18	460 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 11:12	429 MW	7	Met12
19 October at 11:03	574 MW	4	Met10
19 October at 11:03	562 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 11:02	372 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 10:52	611 MW	8	Met12
19 October at 10:48	572 MW	4	Met9
19 October at 10:48	657 MW	4	Met10
19 October at 10:42	206 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 10:33	342 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 10:33	427 MW	4	Met10
19 October at 10:32	246 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 10:22	179 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 10:18	270 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 10:18	204 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 10:12	167 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 10:03	214 MW	3	Met10
19 October at 10:03	160 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 10:02	59 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 09:52	34 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 09:48	77 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 09:48	132 MW	2	Met10
19 October at 09:42	14 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:33	49 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 09:33	50 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:32	18 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 09:22	25 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 09:18	45 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:03	41 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 09:03	40 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 09:02	31 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 08:52	13 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 08:48	34 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 02:16	1 MW	2	N
19 October at 01:37	8 MW	4	N21
19 October at 00:54	5 MW	3	N20
18 October at 15:23	98 MW	1	Aqua
18 October at 14:27	1,319 MW	20	N21
18 October at 13:45	84 MW	9	N20
18 October at 13:23	314 MW	31	N

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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