Western Fire Chiefs Association Launches Real-Time Wildfire Mapping Tool
The Western Fire Chiefs Association has released a comprehensive interactive fire map that aggregates near real-time wildfire activity across the western United States and Alaska. wfca.com reported that the platform combines satellite detections, automated artificial intelligence verification, and live emergency dispatch feeds to track active incidents.
The mapping platform relies on satellite data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System, including VIIRS, MODIS, and Landsat thermal sensors. NOAA’s geostationary GOES satellites provide a five-minute refresh rate for heat detection. To reduce false positives, the system incorporates Satellites on Fire, an artificial intelligence tool that verifies raw satellite detections before displaying them on the public interface.
Tracking Dispatches and Perimeters
Users can view live 911 dispatch calls covering fire, medical, and rescue emergencies through integrated PulsePoint data feeds. Official incident perimeters draw from federal FEDS data and the Interagency Wildland Fire Incident Management System, commonly known as IRWIN. These boundaries feature active growth tracking and containment status updates.
The map also integrates short-range spread forecasts for California fires via the Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System. Live firefighting aircraft—including tankers, helicopters, and reconnaissance units—appear on the display through a maintained allowlist of wildfire-tasked tail numbers. Camera feeds from ALERTCalifornia, ALERTWest, and partner networks provide visual confirmation of smoke and flames across monitored regions.
Weather Context and Satellite Imagery
Meteorological data streams directly from the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. The interface displays Red Flag Warnings, fire-weather outlooks, local wind speeds, and relative humidity measurements. For visual analysis, users can toggle between GOES GeoColor true-color composites and VIIRS Fire Bands to spot active burn zones and smoke plumes.
Every layer on the interface is toggleable and color-coded based on recency and detection confidence. Selecting an incident opens a detail panel containing growth history, dispatch logs, and local weather conditions. The platform uses deep linking, allowing users to share specific URLs that open directly to a chosen state, fire, or map viewport.
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