Frequently asked questions
Everything about kanari, the free real-time wildfire ignition map.
How do I know if there is a wildfire near me right now?
Open kanari.io: the map centers on your region and shows satellite-detected fire starts from the last hours, plus verified citizen reports. Use city search or “My position” to check a specific area. Each flame is colored by the age of the last signal: red means active within the last 3 hours.
Is the kanari fire map really real-time?
The map refreshes about every 2–3 minutes. Detections come from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS, 375 m resolution), GOES for the Americas and Meteosat MTG for Europe and Africa (10-minute refresh), plus citizen reports from social networks. A fire can appear within minutes to a few dozen minutes of its actual start.
Where does kanari data come from?
Public, verifiable sources: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS NOAA-20/21), NOAA GOES, EUMETSAT Meteosat MTG active fire detection, press via GDELT, Bluesky and Telegram for witness reports. Every citizen report is AI-triaged (two independent judgments) before display, to eliminate false positives.
Can I track Canadair water bombers live on kanari?
Yes. kanari shows near real-time positions of firefighting aircraft broadcasting ADS-B: Canadair CL-415/CL-215, the French Sécurité Civile “Pélican” and Dash 8 “Milan” fleet, Air Tractor Fire Boss, DC-10 Air Tankers, and firefighting helicopters (S-64 Air Crane, Chinook, Firehawk). Click an aircraft to see its model, nationality, speed and altitude. They fly in daylight only, so the map shows few at night.
What should I do if I witness a fire starting?
Call emergency services first: 112 in Europe, 911 in North America. That is the only official alert channel. Then you can use kanari's “Report a fire” button to mark your position and help others see the ignition as early as possible.
Is kanari free?
Yes, completely free, no account needed. kanari is a mission-driven project: helping citizens, responders, officials and media see fire starts as early as possible. The world map will stay free.
Does kanari replace official alerts?
No. kanari is an independent information service, not an official emergency channel. Evacuation and response decisions belong to the authorities. In an emergency, call 112 or your local emergency number.
Why doesn't a fire I can see appear on the map?
Several possible reasons: the fire is too small or too recent for a satellite pass (VIIRS overflies roughly every 12 hours at mid-latitudes; GOES and MTG watch more often but less finely), clouds or smoke mask the detection, or no geolocatable witness report has been published yet. That is exactly why citizen reporting matters: your report can be the very first signal.
How can I contribute or suggest an improvement?
Via the Contribute page: ideas, data sources, bugs, partnerships — every input is welcome and reviewed. Relevant improvements are shipped continuously.
Who is behind kanari?
kanari is built in France by VRIA, independently, with a growing community of contributors (firefighters, officials, developers, citizens). The name comes from the canary in the coal mine: the one that sings before danger becomes visible.
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