Active Fires
Near real-time fire detection across Madagascar using MODIS and VIIRS satellite instruments, sourced from NASA FIRMS.
Hotspot points are fetched live from the NASA FIRMS point-data API (MODIS_NRT & VIIRS_SNPP_NRT) for the selected date — drag the slider to look back up to 30 days. Marker size reflects fire radiative power; click a point for details. For bulk downloads, see NASA FIRMS.
MODIS Active Fires
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard Terra and Aqua detects thermal anomalies at 1 km resolution. Fire data are obtained from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS).
VIIRS Active Fires
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite on Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 provides fire detections at 375 m resolution — nearly 3× finer than MODIS — enabling detection of smaller, lower-temperature fires.
Coverage Area
Our monitoring covers all of Madagascar, with focused analysis on key protected areas including Ankarafantsika, Menabe Antimena, and Itremo, where fire dynamics directly impact conservation efforts.
Fire detection process
Satellite pass
MODIS and VIIRS instruments scan Madagascar multiple times daily, measuring thermal radiation across the surface.
Processing
NASA FIRMS and GIBS process the raw data to identify thermal anomalies consistent with active fires, within hours of satellite overpass.
Analysis
AFO combines fire point data with protected area boundaries and land cover to assess seasonality, frequency, and conservation impact.