Wildfires in the Sierra Nevada Today
Live active-fire map for the Sierra Nevada from NASA FIRMS satellite data. Where fires are burning right now — updated hourly. Typical fire season: July–October.
5 km/h from the WSW — carrying smoke towards the ENE.
15°C · 58% humidity
Air quality Poor
PM2.5 40.3 µg/m³ this hour · EU AQI 63 · US AQI 88
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.
4 active fires in the Sierra Nevada
Neighbouring detections grouped into single incidents, largest first.
- 167 MWRemote area37 detections~20.3 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-13 11:04 UTC39.843, -120.005
- 250 MW42 km SW of Sonora, California2 detectionslast seen 2026-08-14 22:05 UTC37.644, -120.594
- 347 MWRemote area18 detections~6.5 km acrosslast seen 2026-08-13 11:04 UTC39.949, -119.836
- 418 MW117 km NE of Sacramento, California8 detectionslast seen 2026-08-13 11:04 UTC39.178, -120.381
Plus 4 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.