Are there wildfires in Alberta right now?

NASA's FIRMS satellites detected 39 active fire hotspots in Alberta 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 Alberta Today

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

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

Active hotspots

High intensity

Time window

VIIRS

NASA sensor

LowMedHigh

Conditions at 17 km SE of High Level, Alberta

8 km/h from the WSW — carrying smoke towards the ENE.

-1°C · 90% humidity

Air quality Poor

PM2.5 56.5 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 63 · US AQI 79

Sensitive groups should reduce outdoor exertion. Others may notice irritation.

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.

7 active fires in Alberta

Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.

1
17 km SE of High Level, Alberta
7 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:40 UTC58.403, -116.947
33 MW
2
15 km E of High Level, Alberta
3 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:40 UTC58.568, -116.899
18 MW
3
32 km N of Fort McMurray, Alberta
6 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:40 UTC57.006, -111.477
11 MW
4
62 km E of Grande Prairie, Alberta
5 detections~5.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-11-02 10:42 UTC55.053, -117.848
10 MW
5
39 km NE of Edmonton, Alberta
5 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:42 UTC53.807, -113.096
7 MW
6
100 km E of Grande Prairie, Alberta
3 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:42 UTC54.847, -117.325
6 MW
7
38 km N of Fort McMurray, Alberta
3 detectionslast seen 2026-11-02 10:40 UTC57.045, -111.621
6 MW

Plus 6 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.

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