International Wildfire Activity
New Zealand Wildfires: Live Map & Satellite Activity
Track wildfire activity across New Zealand with Copernicus GWIS mapped burned-area events and NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections. GWIS provides satellite-derived burned-area context; FIRMS shows separate thermal activity detected from space.
For confirmed incidents, warnings and evacuation information, follow national and local authorities.
Satellite heat & recent fire events
Map key: fire pins show recent Copernicus GWIS fire events; orange and red marks show NASA satellite heat. A Copernicus event is not automatically a named official incident, and one wildfire can create several heat detections.
Recent fire events in New Zealand
Copernicus GWIS adds recent satellite-derived burned-area events alongside the NASA FIRMS heat layer. Each event gets an approximate geographic label from its source geometry, not an invented official incident name. These are fire-event records, not evacuation notices or incident-command reports.
Fire Event — Southern New Zealand, Sep 23, 2026
Near 43.33°S, 172.01°E · latest source Sep 23, 2026
Fire Event — Southern New Zealand, Sep 20, 2026
Near 43.73°S, 171.68°E · latest source Sep 20, 2026
Fire Event — Northeastern New Zealand, Sep 22, 2026
Near 37.89°S, 178.22°E · latest source Sep 22, 2026
Fire Event — Southern New Zealand, Sep 20, 2026
Near 43.76°S, 171.43°E · latest source Sep 20, 2026
4 current/recent fire records from the last available source snapshot. A fresh source check is pending.
New Zealand activity at a glance
About wildfires in New Zealand
This New Zealand wildfire page combines NASA FIRMS satellite heat detections with recent mapped fire-event context and official fire-service information. Vegetation fires can spread rapidly when grass, scrub or forest fuels are dry and winds strengthen, while Fire and Emergency New Zealand is the source for confirmed incidents.
New Zealand wildfire risk and fire danger
Fire danger varies by district, weather and vegetation. Fire and Emergency New Zealand publishes incident reports, fire seasons, restrictions and permit information through its official services.
Official wildfire information in New Zealand
Use Fire and Emergency New Zealand for confirmed incidents, restrictions and emergency guidance. The Check It’s Alright service provides local fire-danger and permit information.
New Zealand wildfire FAQ
Are all red and orange dots confirmed wildfires?
No. NASA FIRMS detects thermal activity from satellites. These heat detections may be associated with wildfires, but they do not necessarily represent confirmed wildfire incidents. They can also come from prescribed burning, agricultural activity, industrial heat or another source.
Can one wildfire create several heat detections?
Yes. A single wildfire can produce multiple satellite heat detections during one or more satellite passes. The number of dots on the map should not be interpreted as the number of separate wildfires.
How often does WildfireSignal check the satellite feed?
WildfireSignal checks the NASA FIRMS feed every 10 minutes. However, the newest available observation for a location may be older because satellites pass over different areas at specific times.
Where should I check confirmed wildfire alerts in New Zealand?
Use the official national and local emergency sources linked on this page for confirmed wildfire information, alerts and evacuation instructions. WildfireSignal is designed for situational awareness and should not replace official emergency guidance.
Official and satellite wildfire sources for New Zealand
WildfireSignal uses NASA FIRMS for its satellite heat-detection layer and links to official sources for wildfire context. For confirmed incidents, warnings, evacuation orders and other emergency information, rely on official national and local authorities.