Live satellite hotspots · source: NASA FIRMS
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Corsica is the most fire-prone part of France per square kilometre. Much of the island is covered in maquis, a dense, resin-rich scrub that can burn like kindling after just a week without rain. Add the wind, whether the libeccio blowing in from the south-west or a mistral offshoot from the north, and a small ignition can become a fast-moving fire front within minutes rather than hours.
This map plots every satellite heat detection over Corsica, cross-referenced with official French fire reports where they are available. Most fires occur in the coastal zones around Ajaccio, in the Balagne near Calvi, and in the south around Porto-Vecchio, all popular bases for summer visitors and hikers.
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.
Balagne and the north-west
Around Calvi, Île-Rousse and Galéria, maquis grows right up to the coast road, with many campsites and narrow lanes nearby. Under libeccio wind conditions, a fire here can race towards the coast extremely quickly.
Ajaccio, Sartène and the west coast
Housing is scattered through maquis around the Gulf of Ajaccio and Propriano. Firefighters routinely deploy Canadair water-bomber aircraft here from the very first report of smoke, given the terrain's steepness and limited road access.
Porto-Vecchio, Bonifacio and the Castagniccia
The south combines cork oak and maquis with heavy summer visitor numbers, while the chestnut forests of the interior tend to burn deeper and for longer once alight, making them harder to fully extinguish.
Is there a wildfire on Corsica right now?
The map shows every hotspot detected over Corsica in the past 18 hours, including official French fire reports where available. Press Live refresh to pull in the latest satellite pass.
How risky is the fire season for tourists?
The biggest practical risk is not the fire itself but road closures: Corsica has few through-routes, and the coast road is typically shut near an active fire. Expect diversions lasting hours and always follow instructions from gendarmes and firefighters (pompiers).
When is the risk highest?
From June to September, with the most dangerous days combining wind above force 5 Beaufort and humidity below 30 percent. The prefecture issues access bans for forest and maquis areas on these high-risk days.
Can I camp or barbecue in the maquis?
No. Wild camping, open fires and barbecues are banned throughout the maquis, and during peak season this extends to many car parks and viewpoints too. Smoking along forest paths is a commonly fined offence, with penalties that can be severe.
What should I do if I spot a fire?
Call 112 or 18. State the commune, the road (for example the D81) and the wind direction if you can judge it. Never drive towards the smoke, and never park on a forest track, as this blocks fire engines.
Why do I sometimes see different dots on the France map?
The France map also layers in official reports from feuxdeforet.fr, which plot one point per confirmed fire. This regional page shows the same underlying satellite data, simply zoomed in on Corsica.
How do I see if a wildfire is close to my campsite or holiday address in Corsica?
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.