FIRMS Fire Alerts: Important Notes
- Fire points are displayed in red on the map.
- The time of data acquisition is in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
- There are two sources of data: MODIS onboard both the Aqua and Terra satellites and VIIRS
375 m onboard the S-NPP and NOAA-20 satellite.
- The improved spatial resolution of the VIIRS 375 m product (over the MODIS 1 km product)
provides a greater response over fires of a relatively small area and has improved night
time performance. As a result, users will notice many more fires are detected from VIIRS.
- The MODIS confidence value is based on a collection of intermediate algorithm quantities
used in the detection process. The range of confidence is expressed between 0-100 (the
values range from 0=very low to 100=very high). The confidence field is experimental and
should be used with caution; it is likely that it will vary in meaning in different parts
of the world.
- The latest near real-time browse images can be viewed in
FIRMS Fire Map or
Worldview.
- Reasons why MODIS or VIIRS may not have detected a certain fire: the fire started and
ended between satellite overpasses; detection was obscured cloud cover, heavy smoke,
or tree canopy. In addition for MODIS, fires may have been too small or too cool to be
detected in the 1 km2 footprint.
- Attribute fields for FIRMS near real-time
MODIS
and
VIIRS.
- For additional information regarding FIRMS visit
Frequently Asked Questions.