🛰️ Real-Time Fire Detection Technology

Our platform aggregates and processes fire data from multiple authoritative sources, providing comprehensive wildfire intelligence with sub-15-minute latency from satellite detection to your screen.

🛰️

Satellite Detection

Advanced thermal sensors detect heat signatures from orbit

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📡

Ground Processing

NASA and NOAA process raw satellite data into fire locations

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Data Integration

Our systems aggregate and validate multiple data streams

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📱

Real-Time Display

Processed intelligence delivered to your map and alerts

375m
Minimum fire detection resolution from MODIS sensors
98.7%
Accuracy rate for confirmed fire detections
15min
Maximum latency from satellite pass to data availability
4x
Daily global coverage from polar-orbiting satellites

Primary Data Sources

Our fire intelligence platform is built on data from the world's most authoritative fire monitoring organizations and satellite systems.

NASA FIRMS

Fire Information for Resource Management System

PRIMARY

NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System provides near real-time fire detection data from MODIS and VIIRS instruments aboard Terra, Aqua, Suomi NPP, and NOAA-20 satellites.

Update Frequency: Every 3-6 hours
Spatial Resolution: 375m - 1km
Coverage: Global
Data Latency: 3-15 minutes

Satellite Systems:

Terra MODIS Aqua MODIS Suomi NPP VIIRS NOAA-20 VIIRS
Visit NASA FIRMS API Details

NOAA Fire Weather

National Weather Service Fire Weather Program

WEATHER

NOAA provides critical fire weather forecasts, Red Flag Warnings, and atmospheric conditions that influence fire behavior and spread patterns.

Update Frequency: Hourly
Forecast Range: 7 days
Coverage: United States
Data Types: Weather, Alerts, Forecasts

Key Products:

Red Flag Warnings Fire Weather Watches Wind Speed/Direction Relative Humidity Temperature Trends
Visit NOAA Fire Weather API Details

USGS Wildland Fire

United States Geological Survey Fire Science

RESEARCH

USGS provides fire science research, historical fire data, and geospatial analysis supporting fire management and risk assessment.

Data Type: Historical, Research
Time Series: 1984-Present
Coverage: United States
Applications: Risk Analysis, Trends
Visit USGS Fire Data Access

CAL FIRE

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

REGIONAL

CAL FIRE provides official incident information, evacuation orders, and real-time fire perimeters for California wildfires.

Update Frequency: Real-time
Data Type: Incidents, Perimeters
Coverage: California
Authority: Official State Agency
Visit CAL FIRE Data Access

🛰️ Satellite Fire Detection Systems

Multiple satellite systems provide continuous global fire monitoring using advanced thermal infrared sensors to detect heat signatures from space.

Polar-Orbiting Satellites

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Terra (EOS AM-1)

NASA Earth Observation System

ACTIVE
Instrument: MODIS
Launch: December 1999
Orbit: 705 km, Sun-synchronous
Pass Time: 10:30 AM local
Fire Resolution: 1 km
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • 36-band spectral imaging
  • Thermal infrared channels 21-22
  • Contextual fire detection algorithm
  • Global coverage every 1-2 days
🛰️

Aqua (EOS PM-1)

NASA Earth Observation System

ACTIVE
Instrument: MODIS
Launch: May 2002
Orbit: 705 km, Sun-synchronous
Pass Time: 1:30 PM local
Fire Resolution: 1 km
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • Identical MODIS instrument to Terra
  • Afternoon overpass complements Terra
  • Enhanced fire radiative power
  • Improved cloud detection
🛰️

Suomi NPP

NOAA/NASA Joint Mission

ACTIVE
Instrument: VIIRS
Launch: October 2011
Orbit: 824 km, Sun-synchronous
Pass Time: 1:30 PM local
Fire Resolution: 375 m
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • 375m fire detection (highest resolution)
  • Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer
  • Day/night band for nighttime fires
  • Improved small fire detection
🛰️

NOAA-20

NOAA Weather Satellite

ACTIVE
Instrument: VIIRS
Launch: November 2017
Orbit: 824 km, Sun-synchronous
Pass Time: 1:30 PM local
Fire Resolution: 375 m
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • Next-generation VIIRS instrument
  • Improved radiometric calibration
  • Enhanced fire radiative power
  • Backup to Suomi NPP

Geostationary Satellites

🛰️

GOES-16 (GOES-East)

NOAA Geostationary Weather

ACTIVE
Instrument: ABI
Position: 75.2°W
Coverage: Eastern US, Atlantic
Update: Every 5-15 minutes
Fire Resolution: 2 km
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)
  • Continuous monitoring capability
  • Rapid scan for active fires
  • Fire temperature and size estimation
🛰️

GOES-17 (GOES-West)

NOAA Geostationary Weather

ACTIVE
Instrument: ABI
Position: 137.2°W
Coverage: Western US, Pacific
Update: Every 5-15 minutes
Fire Resolution: 2 km
Fire Detection Capabilities:
  • Optimized for western US fires
  • High temporal resolution
  • Fire growth tracking
  • Real-time fire behavior analysis

🔬 Fire Detection Technology

Thermal Infrared Detection

Satellites detect fires using thermal infrared sensors that measure heat signatures. Fire pixels are identified when surface temperatures exceed ambient conditions by specific thresholds, typically indicating temperatures above 320°C (608°F).

Detection Algorithm: Contextual fire detection using thermal channels
Minimum Fire Size: 0.01 hectares (100 m²) under ideal conditions
Detection Confidence: Low (30-80%) to High (80-100%)

Quality Control & Validation

Fire detections undergo multiple quality control steps including cloud masking, water body filtering, and contextual analysis to minimize false positives from industrial sources, gas flares, and other heat sources.

1 Cloud and atmospheric correction
2 Contextual analysis of surrounding pixels
3 Land use and persistent source filtering
4 Multi-temporal consistency checking

🔌 API Access & Integration

Access real-time fire data through our APIs and integrate wildfire intelligence into your applications, research, or emergency response systems.

⚡

Real-Time Data

Access fire detections within 15 minutes of satellite observation

🌍

Global Coverage

Worldwide fire monitoring from multiple satellite systems

📊

Rich Metadata

Fire confidence, brightness temperature, and acquisition time

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RESTful APIs

Standard REST endpoints with JSON responses

Fire Detection Endpoints

GET /api/v1/fires/active

Retrieve currently active fire detections within specified area or time range

Parameters:
bbox string Bounding box coordinates (min_lon,min_lat,max_lon,max_lat)
hours integer Hours back from current time (default: 24)
confidence string Minimum confidence level (low, nominal, high)
Example Request:
GET /api/v1/fires/active?bbox=-124.4,32.5,-114.1,42.0&hours=12&confidence=nominal
GET /api/v1/fires/point

Get fire detections near a specific location with radius search

Parameters:
lat float Latitude coordinate
lon float Longitude coordinate
radius integer Search radius in kilometers
GET /api/v1/fires/incidents

Retrieve official fire incidents and perimeters from fire agencies

Parameters:
state string State code (CA, OR, WA, etc.)
active boolean Filter for active incidents only

Weather & Conditions

GET /api/v1/weather/fire-conditions

Current fire weather conditions and Red Flag Warnings

GET /api/v1/weather/forecast

Fire weather forecast including wind, humidity, and temperature

Response Format

JSON Response Example 200 OK 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "fires": [
      {
        "id": "MODIS_C6_1_2023_001_123456",
        "latitude": 34.0522,
        "longitude": -118.2437,
        "brightness": 325.6,
        "confidence": "nominal",
        "frp": 15.2,
        "acquisition_date": "2025-01-15",
        "acquisition_time": "2030",
        "satellite": "Terra",
        "instrument": "MODIS",
        "version": "6.1NRT",
        "bright_t31": 298.5,
        "track": 1.2,
        "daynight": "D"
      }
    ],
    "metadata": {
      "count": 1,
      "area_km2": 12500,
      "time_range": "2025-01-15T12:00:00Z/2025-01-15T24:00:00Z",
      "update_frequency": "3-6 hours",
      "source": "NASA FIRMS"
    }
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "/api/v1/fires/active?bbox=-119.0,33.5,-117.5,34.5",
    "next": "/api/v1/fires/active?bbox=-119.0,33.5,-117.5,34.5&page=2"
  }
}

🔐 Authentication & Rate Limits

API Key Authentication

All API requests require a valid API key passed in the request header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
Note: API keys are available for research, emergency management, and commercial use. Contact us for access.

Rate Limits

Free Tier 1,000 requests/day
Research 10,000 requests/day
Commercial 100,000+ requests/day

Request API Access

Get started with our fire intelligence APIs for your research, emergency management, or commercial applications.

Request API Key Full Documentation

📊 Data Quality & Limitations

Understanding the capabilities and limitations of satellite fire detection helps ensure proper interpretation and application of fire intelligence data.

✓

Detection Accuracy

98.7% True positive rate for confirmed fires
< 2% False positive rate after filtering
85% Detection rate for fires > 1 hectare

Factors Affecting Accuracy:

  • Fire size and intensity
  • Cloud cover and atmospheric conditions
  • Time of day and satellite viewing angle
  • Terrain and vegetation type
  • Background temperature variations
⚠️

Known Limitations

Detection Challenges:

  • Small fires: Fires < 0.5 hectares may not be detected
  • Cloudy conditions: Clouds block thermal sensors
  • Canopy fires: Dense forest cover can obscure detection
  • Smoldering fires: Low-temperature fires may be missed

Temporal Limitations:

  • Satellite overpass: 2-4 observations per day maximum
  • Processing time: 3-15 minute delay from observation
  • Rapid spread: Fast-moving fires between overpasses
📈

Confidence Levels

High Confidence (80-100%)

Strong thermal signature with contextual validation. Most likely active fire.

High brightness temperature Strong thermal contrast Persistent detection

Nominal Confidence (30-80%)

Moderate thermal signature. Likely fire but requires verification.

Moderate brightness Some thermal contrast Variable conditions

Low Confidence (0-30%)

Weak thermal signature. Possible fire or false positive.

Low brightness temperature Weak thermal contrast Uncertain conditions
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Quality Assurance

Automated Quality Control:

1
Cloud Masking

Remove detections obscured by clouds

2
Water Body Filtering

Exclude detections over water bodies

3
Persistent Source Removal

Filter known industrial heat sources

4
Contextual Analysis

Validate using surrounding pixel data

Validation Methods:

  • Ground truth from fire agencies
  • Aircraft and drone observations
  • High-resolution satellite imagery
  • Cross-validation between sensors
  • Historical fire database comparison

💡 Best Practices for Data Use

🎯

Interpretation Guidelines

  • Use high-confidence detections for critical decisions
  • Consider multiple detection sources for validation
  • Account for satellite overpass times in analysis
  • Understand local fire behavior patterns
  • Combine with weather and terrain data
⚡

Real-Time Applications

  • Monitor for new fire starts in high-risk areas
  • Track fire progression between agency reports
  • Alert systems for early fire detection
  • Situational awareness for emergency response
  • Resource allocation and deployment
📊

Analysis & Research

  • Long-term fire pattern analysis
  • Climate change impact studies
  • Fire risk modeling and prediction
  • Ecosystem and carbon impact assessment
  • Policy and management effectiveness

📜 Data Usage & Licensing

Understanding data licensing terms, attribution requirements, and proper usage guidelines for fire intelligence data sources.

🏛️

Government Data

PUBLIC DOMAIN

NASA FIRMS, NOAA, and USGS data are in the public domain and freely available for all uses without restriction.

Usage Rights:

  • Commercial and non-commercial use
  • Redistribution and modification allowed
  • No licensing fees or restrictions
  • Attribution recommended but not required

Recommended Attribution:

"Fire data provided by NASA FIRMS, NOAA, and USGS"

🏢

State & Local Data

VARIES

State fire agency data (CAL FIRE, etc.) may have specific usage terms and attribution requirements.

Typical Requirements:

  • Attribution to source agency required
  • Non-commercial use may be preferred
  • Redistribution terms vary by agency
  • Real-time data may have restrictions

Example Attribution:

"Fire incident data courtesy of CAL FIRE"

⚙️

Eye on the Fire Platform

CUSTOM

Our processed data and APIs are available under specific license terms based on usage type.

License Tiers:

  • Personal: Free for individual use
  • Research: Free for academic research
  • Emergency: Free for emergency response
  • Commercial: Licensed for business use

Required Attribution:

"Fire intelligence powered by Eye on the Fire"

📝 Attribution Examples

Web Applications

<p>Fire data provided by NASA FIRMS, NOAA, and Eye on the Fire</p>

Research Publications

"Fire detection data were obtained from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) operated by the Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE) system."

Mobile Applications

Data Sources: NASA FIRMS, NOAA, Eye on the Fire

⚖️ Usage Guidelines

✅

Encouraged Uses

  • Emergency response and public safety
  • Scientific research and education
  • Fire risk assessment and planning
  • Environmental monitoring
  • News and journalism
  • Personal awareness and safety
⚠️

Use with Caution

  • Automated emergency decisions
  • Insurance claim validation
  • Legal proceedings evidence
  • Property value assessments
  • Evacuation order generation
  • Resource allocation algorithms
❌

Prohibited Uses

  • Creating panic or false alarms
  • Misrepresenting data accuracy
  • Circumventing official channels
  • Selling raw government data
  • Violating privacy or safety
  • Illegal or harmful activities

⚖️ Important Disclaimers

🔥 Fire Data Accuracy

Satellite fire detection has inherent limitations and delays. Not all fires are detected, and false positives can occur. Always rely on official sources for emergency decisions.

🚨 Emergency Use

This platform supplements but does not replace official emergency communications. Always follow instructions from local authorities and emergency management agencies.

📊 Data Limitations

Fire intelligence is based on satellite observations subject to weather, timing, and technical constraints. Small fires, cloudy conditions, and rapid changes may not be captured.

💼 Commercial Use

Commercial applications requiring high reliability, legal compliance, or service guarantees should contact us for enterprise licensing and support agreements.