Which wildfire map should you use?
Several good tools exist for tracking wildfires, and the best one depends on where you are and what you need. Here is a factual comparison, updated August 2026. kanari publishes this page: we also say what the others do better.
| Tool | Coverage | Detection latency | Aircraft | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kanari | Worldwide | ≈ 10-15 min (GOES and Meteosat geostationary satellites); 1-3 h for polar passes | Yes, worldwide live ADS-B tracking | Free, no signup | Open (CSV + API, CC BY 4.0) |
| Watch Duty | United States (and border areas) | Very fast in its area: reports verified by radio-scanner volunteers | Yes, in its area | Free, paid options | Closed app |
| FireTracking | France / Europe focused | Satellite detection and reports, oriented to professional services | Yes | Professional offers | Closed platform |
| NASA FIRMS | Worldwide | ≈ 40 min (URT, United States) to 3 h depending on satellite | No | Free | Open (the scientific reference) |
| Windy (fire layer) | Worldwide | Uses FIRMS data (same latency) | No | Free, premium app | Closed (excellent weather though) |
Our honest take
- In the United States, Watch Duty is a reference: its volunteers listening to firefighter radios provide human context no satellite can replace.
- For science, NASA FIRMS remains the raw data reference, and it is one of kanari's sources.
- kanari is the only free tool combining, on one worldwide map: fast satellite detection (geostationary ≈ 10-15 min), live tracking of water bombers, wind-driven spread cones, AI-verified witness reports and 100% open data.
- If you are in Europe: kanari covers your area with Meteosat every 10 minutes and tracks the European firefighting fleets live.
What is the best live wildfire map right now?
It depends on the area: Watch Duty excels in the United States thanks to its volunteers, NASA FIRMS is the raw data reference, and kanari.io is the most complete free map for worldwide coverage (satellite detection in ≈ 10-15 min, live water bomber tracking, open data CC BY 4.0).
Does Watch Duty work in Europe?
No, Watch Duty covers the United States. In Europe, kanari.io tracks fires via Meteosat (one image every 10 minutes) plus NASA polar satellites, with live tracking of European water bombers.
Is there a free alternative to track wildfires and firefighting aircraft?
Yes: kanari.io is entirely free with no signup. The map shows satellite-detected ignitions, the live position of water bombers and firefighting helicopters, wind, and publishes all its data as open data (CSV and API, CC BY 4.0).
See also: live statistics · water bombers live · public API. Comparison written by kanari, updated August 2026. Spotted a factual error about a competitor? Tell us: contact@kanari.io.