Best wildfire app 2026: 5 tools compared
Looking for the best wildfire app for your holiday in France, Spain, Italy or Portugal? We compared five popular tools — official alert systems, satellite platforms and live maps — so you know exactly which app works for what.
Short summary
- Automatic alarm on your phone: FR-Alert (FR), ES-Alert (ES), IT-Alert (IT) — no installation needed.
- Live map in English: Wildfires in Europe.
- Raw satellite data: NASA FIRMS, or through the weather layer in Windy.
- Official EU verification: Copernicus EFFIS.
Comparison table
| Tool | Type | Coverage | Language | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfires in Europe | Live map, filtered | Europe | EN/NL | Free |
| FR-Alert | Cell-broadcast alarm | France | FR | Free |
| NASA FIRMS | Raw satellite data | Worldwide | EN | Free |
| Copernicus EFFIS | Official EU system | Europe | EN | Free |
| Windy | Weather + wildfire layer | Worldwide | EN/… | Freemium |
1. Wildfires in Europe
Live map with combined and filtered satellite data for the whole of Europe, in English and Dutch.
Best for: Travellers who want one clear overview in their own language.
- Combines NASA FIRMS, EFFIS and official French reports on one map
- Filters out industrial heat sources and oil fields
- Available in English and Dutch
- News feed based on reliable sources (NOS, Reuters, BBC)
- No push notifications on your phone
- Focus is on southern and western Europe
Languages: EN, NL · Price: Free
2. FR-Alert
Official French cell-broadcast warning system run by the Ministry of the Interior.
Best for: Anyone staying in France — no installation needed.
- Automatic loud warning on every phone in the risk zone
- Official source: préfecture and gendarmerie
- Works without credit or a data connection
- France only — no coverage in Spain, Italy or Portugal
- Messages are in French
- No map or overview of other active fires
Languages: FR · Price: Free, automatic
3. NASA FIRMS
Raw satellite data of thermal anomalies (VIIRS + MODIS), updated worldwide within 3 hours.
Best for: Data analysts and enthusiasts who want raw hotspot data.
- Worldwide coverage, multiple satellites
- Detailed metadata (FRP, confidence, satellite)
- Data downloadable as CSV or via API
- Shows industrial heat sources as apparent fires
- Technical, English-only interface
- No filtering, no context
Languages: EN · Price: Free
4. Copernicus EFFIS
The EU's European Forest Fire Information System, with verified fire perimeters and risk maps.
Best for: Anyone looking for verified, official European fire data.
- Verified fire perimeters instead of raw hotspots
- Daily risk map for the whole of Europe
- Official EU source
- Delay of hours up to a day
- Interface is complex for travellers
- English only
Languages: EN · Price: Free
5. Windy
Weather and wind app that also shows wildfire layers, popular with sailors and pilots.
Best for: Anyone who wants to combine wind and smoke direction with hotspots.
- Excellent wind and weather forecasting
- Shows the NASA FIRMS layer on the map
- iOS and Android apps
- Also uses unfiltered FIRMS data (industry included)
- Wildfire is a side feature, not the core
Languages: EN and many more · Price: Free, premium optional
Which app should you choose?
Our recommendation for most travellers: combine two sources. Rely on the official cell-broadcast alarm of the country you are in (FR-Alert, ES-Alert or IT-Alert) for acute warnings, and use a live map such as Wildfires in Europe to see what is happening in the wider region. That way you never miss a local alarm and still have context for your whole holiday area.
Travelling through several countries? Then pick a tool that ignores borders. Our map combines data from every European country in one place and actively filters out industrial noise such as refineries and solar farms.
View the maps
See also our guides Camping safely during wildfires and Travel preparation for the wildfire season.