2023-05-04T13:11:58.897162

2025-03-19T14:34:30.455430

375

375 × 375 meters

Global

Daily

global

Use the following credit when this data is displayed:  “Active fire alerts (VIIRS).” NASA. Accessed from Global Forest Watch on [date]. [www.globalforestwatch.org](https://www.globalforestwatch.org/) Use the following credit when this data is cited:  Schroeder, W., P. Oliva, L. Giglio, and I.A. Csiszar. 2014. “The New VIIRS 375 m Active Fire Detection Data Product: Algorithm Description and Initial Assessment.” Remote Sensing of Environment 143 (March): 85–96. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2013.12.008.

VIIRS active fires

Schroeder, W., P. Oliva, L. Giglio, and I.A. Csiszar. 2014. “The New VIIRS 375 m Active Fire Detection Data Product: Algorithm Description and Initial Assessment.” Remote Sensing of Environment 143 (March): 85–96. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2013.12.008.

We acknowledge the use of data and/or imagery from NASA's [Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS)](https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/tools/firms), part of NASA's Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). [NASA Data Use Policy](https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/engage/open-data-services-software-policies/data-use-policy)

English

The VIIRS active fires data ([VNP14IMGT](https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/vnp14imgv002/)) is the latest fire monitoring product to FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System), which identifies global fire locations in near-real time. Information is collected from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor and processed with a [fire detection algorithm](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425713004483) to flag active fires. Each dot on the map represents the center of a 375-meter pixel that has been flagged by the algorithm.  The VIIRS data replaces the active fires data from MODIS that was previously available on Global Forest Watch. The VIIRS data has higher spatial resolution (375-meter pixels vs. 1-kilometer pixels) which improves detection of smaller fires and provides a more reliable estimate of fire perimeters. The VIIRS data is also better calibrated to detect fires at night.  Users can view up to three months of active fires data from the past two years. Fire alert data is available for download from the [NASA FIRMS](https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/) website.  Each fire alert has a confidence value of low, nominal, or high to help users gauge the quality of individual hotspot /fire pixels. Lower confidence alerts are typically associated with areas of sun glint (reflection off clouds or metal structures) and lower relative temperature anomalies. Nominal confidence alerts are those free for potential sun glint contamination and marked by stronger temperature anomalies. High confidence alerts tend to be associated with extreme temperature anomalies.  The color of the alert is dependent on the zoom level because alert data are aggregated at larger scales. At larger scales, points range in color from orange (fewer alerts) to black (many alerts). Zoom in for greater detail. 

Displays up to three months of fire alert data for past two years

- Not all fires are detected. There are several reasons why VIIRS may not have detected a certain fire. The fire may have started and ended between satellite overpasses. The fire may have been too small or too cool to be detected in the 375-meter pixel. Cloud cover, heavy smoke, or tree canopy may completely obscure a fire. - High confidence alerts are less likely to result in “false alarms” but may exclude some active fires. Users requiring maximum fire detectability should consider using alerts from all confidence levels. - It is not recommended to use active fire locations to estimate burned area due to spatial and temporal sampling issues. - When zoomed out, this data layer displays some degree of inaccuracy because the data points must be collapsed to be visible on a larger scale. Zoom in for greater detail. 

Open per NASA data policy

Forest ChangeFires

Higher resolution data for fires

https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/instruments/viirs/viirs-i-band-375-m-active-fire-data

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