Are there wildfires in DR Congo right now?

NASA's FIRMS satellites detected 28237 active fire hotspots in the DR Congo over the last 3 days, including 133 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.

28237

Active hotspots

133

High intensity

Time window

VIIRS

NASA sensor

LowMedHigh

Conditions at Remote area

14 km/h from the N — carrying smoke towards the S.

30°C · 33% humidity

Air quality Very poor

PM2.5 40.7 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 96 · US AQI 156

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.

1729 active fires in DR Congo

Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.

1
Remote area
1262 detections~191.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 23:35 UTC-11.944, 20.141
16161 MW
2
Remote area
866 detections~275.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 23:35 UTC-13.076, 23.479
10617 MW
3
Remote area
958 detections~181.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 23:35 UTC-12.240, 17.962
9832 MW
4
Remote area
800 detections~183 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 23:35 UTC-13.146, 24.123
7827 MW
5
Remote area
755 detections~153.6 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 12:29 UTC-7.404, 14.891
7164 MW
6
Remote area
530 detections~167.8 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 12:32 UTC-5.620, 15.172
5000 MW
7
Remote area
381 detections~89 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 12:27 UTC-13.007, 17.235
4555 MW
8
Remote area
401 detections~133.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-19 01:15 UTC-7.720, 16.043
4547 MW
9
Remote area
247 detections~153.7 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 23:33 UTC-6.368, 15.708
4442 MW
10
Remote area
106 detections~81.2 km acrosslast seen 2026-09-18 12:29 UTC-5.477, 15.824
4162 MW

Plus 1711 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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