Wildfire near Rignano Garganico, Italy (2026)

Wildfire near Rignano Garganico — NASA satellite

Yesterday's image: fire shows in orange and red. NASA MODIS

The story so far

About 5 km northwest of Rignano Garganico.

Summary written on Aug 6, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

An intense heat signature is currently being picked up by satellites over an active wildfire burning near Rignano Garganico, Italy. Having started on August 5, 2026, the blaze has grown to encompass 180 hectares, which is equivalent to 445 acres. Monitoring systems have detected seven heat signatures in the past 48 hours clustering nearby, illustrating the current extent of the spread.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which spans from June to October. The broader landscape reflects a severe year for wildfires in the country, with 74,696 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that is 31 percent above the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire burned in Italy for 2 days. In total it burned about 180 ha (445 acres) — around 1.8 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.