Are there wildfires in DR Congo right now?

NASA's FIRMS satellites detected 27682 active fire hotspots in the DR Congo over the last 3 days, including 512 high-intensity fires. The map on this page shows their exact locations, updated hourly.

How does NASA detect wildfires?

NASA's VIIRS and MODIS instruments aboard the Suomi NPP, NOAA-20 and Terra/Aqua satellites detect thermal anomalies (heat signatures) from orbit. Each detection is a "hotspot" — a pixel where the sensor measured fire-level heat. Data is published within about 3 hours of the satellite overpass through the FIRMS system.

What does fire intensity (FRP) mean?

FRP (Fire Radiative Power, in megawatts) measures how much energy a fire is releasing. Higher FRP means a more intense fire. On this map, brighter red dots are higher-intensity detections.

Wildfires in DR Congo Today

Name: Active Wildfires in DR Congo
Creator: NASA
Published: 2024-01-01
License: https://www.nasa.gov/open/
Keywords: wildfires, fires dr congo, NASA FIRMS, active fire map, VIIRS

Live active-fire map for the DR Congo from NASA FIRMS satellite data. Where fires are burning right now — updated hourly. Typical fire season: June–September.

27682

Active hotspots

512

High intensity

Time window

VIIRS

NASA sensor

LowMedHigh

Conditions at Remote area

10 km/h from the SE — carrying smoke towards the NW.

22°C · 40% humidity

Air quality Very poor

PM2.5 47.8 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 84 · US AQI 164

Everyone should limit outdoor exertion. Keep windows closed if smoke is nearby.

The band above follows the European index, which averages particulates over 24 hours — so a sharp rise in this hour's PM2.5, as smoke passing overhead causes, shows up in the reading before it moves the band.

Wind direction only — not a smoke dispersion forecast. Air quality is modelled, not a street-level measurement. Weather from MET Norway; air quality from Open-Meteo (Copernicus CAMS). Both CC BY 4.0.

2543 active fires in DR Congo

Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.

1
Remote area
148 detections~36.5 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-8.336, 24.934
11295 MW
2
Remote area
63 detections~14.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-7.377, 25.030
9720 MW
3
Remote area
72 detections~17.1 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-8.854, 24.426
9346 MW
4
Remote area
117 detections~27.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-8.082, 24.953
7880 MW
5
Remote area
650 detections~209.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-10.841, 16.150
7218 MW
6
Remote area
68 detections~8.6 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-8.734, 22.220
6553 MW
7
Remote area
70 detections~21.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-9.307, 24.831
4742 MW
8
Remote area
46 detections~5.1 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-9.629, 24.279
3910 MW
9
Remote area
297 detections~125.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-7.593, 22.560
3872 MW
10
Remote area
26 detections~4.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 12:53 UTC-7.009, 25.116
3727 MW

Plus 2078 smaller heat detections — often agricultural burning rather than wildfire.

About this wildfire map

This map uses NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), which publishes active-fire detections from the VIIRS and MODIS instruments aboard NASA and NOAA satellites. Each dot is a thermal “hotspot” where the sensor measured fire-level heat, usually within 3 hours of the satellite passing overhead. It shows where fires are actively burning — not fire perimeters or evacuation zones. For safety and evacuation information, always follow your local emergency services.

Wildfires in other countries

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