Active fires
Current incident records from NIFC and NASA FIRMS satellite detections.
Track active fires.
Model the spread.
Be prepared.
Free wildfire map & fire spread simulator
Wildfire Map & Spread Simulator
See how a wildfire could spread, and where the smoke could go.
Track active fires, current air quality and long-term wildfire risk on one map. Then drop an ignition point, set wind speed, direction and fuel moisture, and watch a terrain-aware model estimate how a fire could grow from 1 hour to 1 week.
- Active Fire
Data - Air Quality
& AQI - Wildfire
Risk Layer - Free to Use
No Account Needed
Interactive wildfire map
Run Your Own Fire Spread Scenario
Educational tool — not an evacuation forecast. Modeled spread uses constant conditions you choose. During a real wildfire, follow official alerts, evacuation orders and local authorities.
Free PDF guide
Wildfire Spread Simulator Guide
Step-by-step instructions for running a scenario, reading the map and explaining the result with confidence.
- Choose the ignition point
- Set wind, direction and fuel moisture
- Run the model and wait for "result active"
- Explore the time horizon
- Read road effects and structure exposure
- Add reference layers for context
- Use Current Air Quality and AQI Monitors
- Explain the result safely
What you can explore
One Map. Every Layer of Wildfire Intelligence.
Stop jumping between sources. See active fires, smoke, air quality and long-term risk in one place.
Current air quality
Highest AQI, main pollutant and station list from EPA AirNow.
AQI monitors
Monitoring stations plotted as color-coded dots on the map.
Simulated smoke
Where smoke could travel based on your scenario's wind.
Wildfire risk
Long-term hazard context from the U.S. Forest Service risk layer.
Fire history
Mapped fire perimeters from prior years to compare with your scenario.
Get started in under a minute
How to Use the Wildfire Spread Simulator
Four steps take you from a single ignition point to a week-long spread estimate.
01
Choose the ignition point
- Click any supported point on the map
- Search a U.S. place or street address
- Or paste latitude and longitude
Confirm the orange pin before running. If a point isn't supported, choose a nearby burnable spot.
02
Set the scenario conditions
- Wind speed sets how hard wind drives the fire
- Travel direction sets where it's pushed
- Drier fuel moisture spreads faster and wider
These inputs stay fixed for the scenario. They aren't live weather. Changing any one recalculates the result.
03
Simulate the wildfire
- Select Simulate wildfire
- Keep the page open while it runs
- Look for "result active"
The first run may take longer while terrain and state layers load in your browser.
04
Explore over time
- Step through 1 hour to 1 week
- Solid line = perimeter at selected time
- Dashed envelope = spotting uncertainty
Perimeters are educational estimates, not operational forecasts or evacuation boundaries.
Wildfires don't spread in perfect circles
Terrain, Fuel and Wind Change Everything.
Wildfire behavior depends on wind, fuel moisture, vegetation, terrain and other local conditions. The MIRA Safety Wildfire Simulator combines these variables to help you see why one part of a wildfire may advance much faster than another.
WindPushes flames and embers forward
Fuel moistureDrier vegetation burns more readily
Vegetation & fuelDifferent fuels behave differently
Slope & terrainFire can spread differently across hills and valleys
Respiratory protection
Protect Your Lungs From Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke carries fine particles and gases like carbon monoxide, and it can travel hundreds of miles from the fire. A full-face respirator with the right filter helps reduce what you breathe, whether you're near the flames or far downwind.
Breathe
CM-6M Tactical Gas Mask
Full-face respirator that also protects your eyes from smoke, with a wide panoramic visor.
Shop gas masks
Filter
VK-530 Smoke & CO Filter
Filters smoke, soot, particulates and carbon monoxide during residential and forest fires.
Shop smoke filters
Protect
HAZ-SUIT
Full-body protective suit that keeps ash and soot off your skin and clothing.
Shop hazmat suits
Escape
Fire Escape Pro Kit
CM-6M mask, two VK-530 smoke and CO filters, and a drop-leg pouch for fast, hands-free evacuation.
Shop the kit
Protection for the whole family
The Only US Kids PPE Manufacturer
Children breathe more air for their body size than adults, so smoke affects them more, and adult respirators don't fit them. MIRA Safety designs and builds respiratory protection made for smaller faces, from school-age kids to toddlers.
MD-1 Children's Gas Mask
Full-face CBRN respirator sized for children, with a hose-mounted filter that takes the weight off their face.
Shop MD-1
MD-2 Child Escape Respirator
Powered air-purifying hood for toddlers and young children. No tight face seal needed.
Shop MD-2Wildfire Simulator FAQ
How does the Wildfire Spread Simulator work?
You place an ignition point, then set wind speed, travel direction and fuel moisture. A terrain-aware model runs in your browser and estimates how the fire perimeter could grow at each step from 1 hour to 1 week.
Is this a live fire forecast or evacuation map?
No. It's an educational scenario that uses constant conditions. During a real incident, follow official alerts, evacuation orders and local authorities.
Where does the active fire data come from?
The Active Fires layer shows current incident records from NIFC and NASA FIRMS when available. Open the official source for operational details.
Is the air quality data real?
Current Air Quality and AQI Monitors use EPA AirNow observations. These are preliminary public data, not regulatory AQS data, and they aren't generated by the fire simulation.
What do the solid and dashed lines mean?
The solid line is the modeled perimeter at the selected time. The dashed envelope shows spotting uncertainty, where embers could start new fires ahead of the main front.
Why doesn't the fire spread in a circle?
Wind, fuel moisture and terrain push fire faster in some directions than others. Verified road data also changes local spread, though roads aren't treated as absolute barriers.
What does "structures reached" mean?
It counts verified FEMA structures inside the modeled perimeter at 24 hours. Structures don't change the spread, and zero is a valid result.
Why did my first run take longer?
On the first run, terrain and state layers are cached in your browser. Later runs in the same area are faster.
Model the Fire. Prepare Before the Smoke Arrives.
Test how wind, fuel and terrain change a fire's path, and build your plan before wildfire season.
Launch the Wildfire Simulator
- Free to use
- No account required
- Active fire & AQI data
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