Wildfire Hazard (NASA FIRMS NOAA-21)
This layer measures exposure to wildfire based on recent satellite observations of active fires.
Category: Physical risks · Mitigating services · Climate Acute Risks Coverage: Global Format: Raster grid (~5 km, derived from ~375 m detections) Used in risk analysis: Yes — gates Mitigating services
What it shows
This layer measures exposure to wildfire based on recent satellite observations of active fires. Wildfire threatens ecosystems and biodiversity through habitat loss and species displacement, undermines carbon storage and climate regulation, and puts settlements, agriculture and forestry at risk. The layer indicates where fire activity has been most concentrated.
How it is built
The layer is built from NASA FIRMS active-fire detections captured by the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-21 satellite, averaged over three years (January 2024 to March 2026), following the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter methodology. Only fires flagged with nominal or high confidence are kept. The detections are normalised by area (fires per 1,000 km²) to give an average annual fire density, which is then sorted into five risk classes. Using detections from 2024–2026 means the layer reflects very recent fire activity.
How to read it
The layer uses a five-class scale. Higher classes indicate greater wildfire exposure — areas with the highest density of detected fires — while lower classes indicate little or no recent fire activity. A site is assessed by the class of the grid area it falls within.
Source
NASA FIRMS — Fire Information for Resource Management System; VIIRS NOAA-21 active-fire detections (2024–2026, three-year average). Classification follows the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter methodology.
Comparison with the WWF Risk Filter Suite
This layer maps to BRF S3_2 Wildfires and is aligned: WWF uses MODIS / NASA FIRMS active-fire data, the same source family. Darwin's use of recent 2024–2026 NOAA-21 detections keeps the fire signal current.
Risk analysis
A site is flagged on a dimension by combining a proximity trigger (this layer) with an activity trigger (the entity's ENCORE pressure/service). Proximity only → Potentially material; proximity and the matching ENCORE pressure/service is material → Very material; neither → Not material.
| Dimension | ENCORE service / pressure | Proximity trigger (this layer) | Activity trigger (entity) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitigating services | Fire risk | Layer value above 3.5 | — |
Legend
Symbolised field: Wildfire hazard level (WWF methodology)
| Class | Colour |
|---|---|
| 1 - Very low (0 fires/1000km²) | #ffffcc |
| 2 - Low (1-3 fires/1000km²) | #c7e9b4 |
| 3 - Moderate (4-20 fires/1000km²) | #7fcdbb |
| 4 - High (21-85 fires/1000km²) | #fd8d3c |
| 5 - Very high (>85 fires/1000km²) | #e31a1c |
Generated from darwin/layers/layer-wildfire-hazard-nasa-firms-noaa-21.toml and risk_indicator_pairs.toml (develop).