Live satellite hotspots · source: NASA FIRMS
Leave a rating — takes one click.
Sardinia records hundreds of vegetation fires every year and was the site of one of Italy's largest fires this century, the 2021 Montiferru blaze which burned more than 20,000 hectares. The island combines macchia scrub, cork oak forest and vast grazing land with a hot, dry summer and the scirocco, a wind that carries hot air north from Africa and can dry out vegetation within days.
This map plots every satellite detection over Sardinia, from the Costa Smeralda in the north-east to the Sulcis area in the south-west. Most fires start inland and along farm tracks rather than in the tourist coastal zones, but wind can carry smoke, and occasionally flames, towards holiday areas surprisingly fast.
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.
Oristano and Montiferru
Cork oak, macchia and pasture cover the mid-west of the island. The area around Santu Lussurgiu and Cuglieri burned right up to village edges in 2021, and recovery of the vegetation here is expected to take decades.
Gallura and the Costa Smeralda
Granite hills covered in macchia surround Olbia, Arzachena and Palau. Fires here mainly threaten holiday villas and campsites, and coastal winds can shift direction quickly, catching out anyone assuming a fire will keep moving away.
Nuoro, Ogliastra and Sulcis
Mountainous interior and sparsely populated coastal woodland characterise the south-west. Access roads are long and narrow, so firefighting relies heavily on aircraft rather than ground crews reaching the fire front directly.
Is there a wildfire on Sardinia right now?
The map shows heat detections recorded across the whole island over the past 18 hours. Press Live refresh to pull in the newest satellite pass immediately and check the current picture.
When is Sardinia's fire season?
Officially from 1 June to 31 October, with the worst days in July and August coinciding with scirocco, a hot southerly wind that can push temperatures above 40°C and dry vegetation rapidly.
Are the beaches and resorts safe?
Usually, yes. Coastal resorts generally sit in areas with limited fuel, and the real risk lies in the macchia behind the coast and further inland. Smoke and temporary road closures are the most likely inconvenience for holidaymakers.
Are barbecues and open fires allowed?
During the season, open fires, barbecues outside designated areas, fireworks and burning stubble or garden waste are all banned. The region publishes a daily danger rating (pericolosità) by zone; red and black ratings bring additional restrictions.
What are the emergency numbers?
Call 112 for any emergency, or 1515 to reach the Corpo Forestale directly for a forest fire. Give the commune, the road name and number (SS or SP), and the wind direction if you can see it.
Why do I see dots in uninhabited areas?
The satellites measure heat regardless of whether anyone lives nearby, and many Sardinian fires start in pasture and macchia far from villages. We flag isolated, weak detections as likely false alarms rather than confirmed fires.
How do I see if a wildfire is close to my campsite or holiday address in Sardinia?
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.