Wildfire near La Canourgue, France (2026)

Wildfire near La Canourgue — Sentinel-2 true color

Wildfire near La Canourgue — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego)

True view Fire view

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True view (left): as the eye sees it.
Fire view (right): infrared (SWIR), sees through smoke and brings out the heat.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 brown = already burned
🟠 orange = fire right now

Drag to compare: normal photo on the left, heat brought out on the right.

Green: vegetationBrown: already burnedOrange: fire right nowSentinel-2 · Copernicus

The story so far

About 10 km southwest of La Canourgue.

Summary written on Aug 9, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from the active wildfire burning near La Canourgue, France, which has already consumed 100 hectares (247 acres) since it started on August 9, 2026. Orbiting equipment has detected four distinct thermal anomalies nearby over the past 48 hours, highlighting the ongoing spread of the front.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to September. The broader landscape faces severe strain, with 93,020 hectares having burned across the country so far in 2026—a staggering 530% above the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire burned in France for 2 days. In total it burned about 100 ha (247 acres) — around 1.0 km². That size is an estimate from satellite hotspots, not a measured area.

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.