Tutorials / How to Auto-Refresh FIRMS KML in Google Earth Pro

This tutorial demonstrates how to ingest FIRMS KML fire data into Google Earth Pro with automatic refresh.

Method 2:
1. Create local.kml file with the Network Link
2. Open local.kml File in Google Earth Pro
3. Find local.kml File
4. View Results

Method 1:

Step 1 - Add Network Link

Launch Google Earth Pro on your computer (not the google earth web site)
Click Add > Network Link

Step 2 - Set URL and Refresh Rate

Paste and copy url location into Link:
ex: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/data/active_fire/modis-c6.1/kml/MODIS_C6_1_USA_contiguous_and_Hawaii_24h.kml
View other available FIRMS kml files (updated every hour)

Select Refresh tab
Set Time-Based Refresh to When:Periodically
Adjust the frequency as needed
Click OK at the bottom

Step 3 -View Data

Double+Click the FIRMS layer for refresh or Right+Click and select Refresh to view the data
The link name will be added to the Temporary Places section of your Places panel
The specified kml file will be refreshed with the defined time interval

Method 2:

Step 1 - Create local.kml file with the Network Link

Open any text editor and paste and copy the code below
Note the refreshInterval is set to 3600 seconds (3600 seconds = 1 hour; 43200 seconds = 12 hours; 86400 seconds = 1 day)
Set href to FIRMS kml file of your interest. See options (updated every hour)
Save the file as local.kml in plain text. Check that the editor didn't add any special characters.

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0">
  <Document>
    <NetworkLink>
      <Name>Local kml</Name>
      <Link>
        <href>https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/data/active_fire/c6/kml/MODIS_C6_USA_contiguous_and_Hawaii_24h.kml</href>
        <refreshMode>onInterval</refreshMode>
        <refreshInterval>3600</refreshInterval>
      </Link>
    </NetworkLink>
  </Document>
</kml>

Step 2 - Open local.kml File in Google Earth Pro

Launch Google Earth Pro on your computer (not the google earth web site)
Click File > Open

Step 3 - Find local.kml File

Find and select local.kml and click Open

Step 4 - View Results

The file is added to the Temporary Places section of your Places panel.
It will auto refresh as defined in your local.kml file