Are there wildfires in Queensland right now?

NASA's FIRMS satellites detected 717 active fire hotspots in Queensland over the last 3 days. 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 Queensland Today

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

Live active-fire map for Queensland from NASA FIRMS satellite data. Where fires are burning right now — updated hourly. Typical fire season: August–December.

717

Active hotspots

High intensity

Time window

VIIRS

NASA sensor

LowMedHigh

Conditions at Remote area

15 km/h from the SSE — carrying smoke towards the NNW.

16°C · 46% humidity

Air quality Good

PM2.5 0.4 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 16 · US AQI 20

Air quality is good. No precautions needed.

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.

52 active fires in Queensland

Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.

1
Remote area
113 detections~15.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 15:33 UTC-19.595, 138.374
737 MW
2
Remote area
107 detections~9.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 04:21 UTC-25.205, 150.007
658 MW
3
Remote area
30 detections~17.5 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 04:21 UTC-26.281, 150.454
514 MW
4
Remote area
19 detections~15.9 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 04:25 UTC-14.431, 141.587
182 MW
5
Remote area
56 detections~21.1 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 15:33 UTC-12.968, 141.785
96 MW
6
90 km S of Brisbane, Queensland
10 detections~3.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 04:19 UTC-28.219, 152.685
89 MW
7
29 km SW of Brisbane, Queensland
6 detectionslast seen 2026-08-05 04:21 UTC-27.702, 152.899
63 MW
8
Remote area
9 detections~2.6 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 04:23 UTC-16.653, 139.284
61 MW
9
Remote area
26 detections~11.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-05 15:33 UTC-14.236, 143.459
59 MW
10
Remote area
4 detectionslast seen 2026-08-05 04:19 UTC-28.834, 149.481
54 MW

Plus 59 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.

More of Australia

All of Australia New South Wales Victoria Western Australia

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