Live satellite hotspots · source: NASA FIRMS
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Central Portugal is the country's deadliest fire region. In June 2017 the fire at Pedrógão Grande killed 66 people, most of them trapped on a road the flames crossed; that October fires burned across the region again. The reason lies in the landscape: unbroken eucalyptus and pine plantations, deep valleys and villages surrounded by forest on all sides.
This map plots every satellite detection between the Atlantic coast at Leiria and the Spanish border near Guarda, with the Serra da Estrela natural park in between. Search for your destination and switch on alerts to see whether a hotspot is moving your way.
Hotspots come from the VIIRS instruments on NASA FIRMS satellites (NOAA-20, NOAA-21 and Suomi NPP) and are cross-checked against Copernicus EFFIS. A hotspot is a heat detection, not a confirmed fire: industrial sites, solar farms and permanent burners are filtered out automatically.
Serra da Estrela
Mainland Portugal's highest range, with pine forest, mountain heath and hiking trails around Manteigas, Covilhã and Seia. In August 2022 almost a quarter of the park burned; steep slopes make firefighting slow.
Pinhal Interior: Pedrógão Grande, Lousã and Sertã
Dense eucalyptus and pine with narrow mountain roads between Coimbra and Castelo Branco. This is where the 2017 disaster happened; roads here can become unusable within minutes as smoke and flames cross them.
Coastal Leiria and Pombal
The Pinhal de Leiria, a centuries-old pine forest on the Atlantic coast near Marinha Grande, largely burned down in 2017. The replanted forest is young and dense, so fire travels fast on a sea breeze.
Are there wildfires in central Portugal right now?
The map shows every heat detection from the past 18 hours over Coimbra, Leiria, Castelo Branco and Guarda. Press Live refresh for the latest satellite pass.
Can I visit the Serra da Estrela in summer?
Usually yes, but at risk level máximo the ICNF closes trails and forest areas in the park. Check your municipality's daily risk level before setting out.
Why is this region so fire-prone?
Continuous eucalyptus and pine plantations, abandoned farmland and scattered villages with no defensible space. Above 35°C with a dry easterly wind, a fire here can cover thousands of hectares a day.
What should I do if a road is closed by smoke?
Turn around and never drive through a wall of smoke; on the narrow roads of the Pinhal Interior that is life-threatening. Follow GNR instructions and wait in a village or open ground.
How do I get official warnings?
Call 112 in an emergency and follow the ANEPC civil protection agency for evacuations. Report wildfires to SOS Floresta on 117.
Does this map cover the Algarve and the Alentejo?
No, this window runs from Leiria to Guarda. Use the Algarve or Alentejo maps for the south, or the Portugal map for the whole country.
How do I see if a wildfire is close to my campsite or holiday address in central Portugal and the Serra da Estrela?
Use the location finder on this map: type your destination, village or campsite name, or tap "Use my location". The map instantly shows the distance in kilometres to the nearest active hotspot, and you can switch on alerts for fires within 5 to 100 km. Every search gets its own link, so you can share the situation around your own address with family or fellow travellers.