Watch Fire brings wildfire information, analysis and risk insights together for communities worldwide
Where is a fire burning, and what could be at risk nearby? For communities concerned about homes, local landscapes or wildlife, these questions belong together.
Watch Fire brings wildfire information, analysis and risk insights into one multilingual platform. Its interactive world map connects fire activity with weather, nearby communities and environmental context, helping make complex information accessible to a wider public.
Connecting the global picture with local concerns
Visitors can explore fire activity around the world and focus on places that matter to them. Weather forecasts, wind direction and terrain add context to observed activity, while information about nearby settlements and infrastructure highlights potential exposure.
The platform combines NASA fire observations with official reports where available. Users can follow locations through email alerts, explore background articles and contribute photographs or videos for review before publication.
Making nature part of the risk picture
Watch Fire also draws attention to what may be at stake beyond populated areas. Its environmental analysis considers protected natural areas and threatened species alongside other factors surrounding fire activity.
The platform lists Protected Planet, GBIF and the IUCN Red List among its biodiversity sources. These provide context on conservation areas, recorded animals and plants, and extinction risk. Where relevant records are available, this information can help users explore the ecological importance of areas near a fire.
This perspective brings habitats and biodiversity into the conversation alongside homes and infrastructure. It can highlight places that warrant closer attention, while recognising that potential exposure does not establish that a species or habitat has been harmed.
Information that invites understanding
Watch Fire’s approach brings observations, analysis and explanatory material together. Visitors can examine where activity has been observed, consider surrounding conditions and consult related reports, rather than having to assemble this context across several specialist services.
For residents, travellers, educators and conservation communities, the platform offers an accessible starting point for exploring wildfire activity. Its purpose is to support awareness and understanding, with official guidance remaining essential for decisions about personal safety.
An invitation to collaborate
Watch Fire welcomes conversations with municipalities, nature organisations, researchers, educators and others working on wildfire awareness and disaster risk reduction. Opportunities described on the website include educational use, research collaboration and making the map available through other websites.
Understanding the limits
The platform’s risk assessments are indicative, not official warnings. Satellite observations can include heat sources other than wildfires, and coverage or observation delays can leave gaps. Biodiversity records also vary in completeness and do not confirm that a species is currently present or affected.
Watch fire complements information from authorities. Users should always follow official emergency warnings and evacuation instructions.