Wildfire guides
Understanding wildfires to better protect yourself: the reflexes that save lives, and the inner workings of aerial firefighting and satellite detection.
What to do during a wildfire: the reflexes that save lives
Witnessing an ignition, home under threat, smoke in the distance: the right reflexes, step by step, based on civil protection guidance.
How does a Canadair water bomber work?
6,000 litres scooped in 12 seconds, drops from 30 metres above ground: how the CL-415 fights wildfires, and how to track water bombers live.
How do satellites detect wildfires?
Thermal anomalies, 375 m resolution, 10-minute refresh: how VIIRS, GOES and Meteosat MTG satellites spot new fires, and their limits.
Fire weather: understanding wildfire risk
Drought, wind, air humidity: how wildfire risk is computed, what the 30/30/30 rule means, and where to check the risk in real time.
Smelling smoke outside: how to check if there is a fire near you
It smells like smoke or burning outside? The possible causes, how to check in 2 minutes whether a fire is burning around you (free satellite map), and when to call emergency services.