WFCA Fire Map uses satellite data and AI to monitor US wildfires

Tracking active wildfire behavior across the western United States and Alaska is shown using satellite data and AI confirmation, according to information released via the Western Fire Chiefs Association. The WFCA Fire Map aggregates real-time telemetry from NASA thermal sensors and NOAA geostationary platforms to monitor incidents.

Multi-Satellite Detection and AI Verification Infrastructure

Polar-orbiting satellites, including VIIRS, MODIS, and Landsat thermal instruments, capture snapshots of active perimeters. Meanwhile, NOAA’s GOES geostationary satellites provide continuous coverage with five-minute refresh intervals.

To verify thermal anomalies, raw satellite returns pass through Satellites on Fire, an artificial intelligence system designed to cross-reference and verify wildfire detections from those satellites. Once confirmed, these data points integrate with official federal fire perimeters and incident records.

Real-Time Emergency Dispatch and Weather Context

Beyond satellite thermal imaging, the tracking platform incorporates live 911 dispatch feeds through PulsePoint, giving visibility into emergency calls for fire, medical, and other incidents.

Meteorological data streams directly from the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. These layers supply critical fire-weather context, including Red Flag Warnings and wind and humidity forecasts that influence short-range spread predictions.

Monitoring Layer	Primary Technology	Update Frequency
Thermal Hotspots	VIIRS, MODIS, Landsat	Polar Orbit Passes
Continuous Tracking	GOES ABI Sensors	5-Minute Refresh
Emergency Dispatch	PulsePoint 911 Feeds	Real-Time
Fire Weather	NWS & SPC Outlets	Active Advisories

Operators, researchers, and residents can access these combined data layers directly through the live mapping portal hosted at wfca.com/fire-map, where deep links preserve specific state and regional viewports for public tracking.