Started on Sep 19, 2026.
Australia todayLive
Yesterday's image: fire shows in orange and red. NASA MODIS
Red dots: heat detected by satellite in the last 48h. NASA FIRMS
Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from the active wildfire burning near Katherine South, Australia, which has already grown to 1,030 hectares (2,545 acres) since it started on September 18, 2026. Orbiting sensors have detected 42 heat signatures clustering nearby over the last 48 hours, illustrating the current spread of the fire front across the region.
This incident unfolds during the typical fire season running from December to March in the area. Nationally, the broader context shows that 15,075,205 hectares have burned so far in 2026, tracking 57% below the two-decade average for the country.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in Australia for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 330 ha (815 acres) — about 3.3 km².
Close to the tropics, fires tend to follow the dry season and are often linked to land-clearing rather than a single summer peak.
The bigger picture in Australia
Across Australia, roughly 15,075,205 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 57% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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