Images
February 28, 2026 - Fires in the Pyrenees
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Dozens of fires dotted green valleys along the snow-capped Pyrenees in late February 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of the region on February 26.
Red “hot spots” have been added to the image to mark the locations where the thermal bands on the MODIS instrument detected high temperatures. When combined with typical smoke (as seen here) such hot spots mark actively burning fire.
Most of the smoke and fires are in southeastern France and stretch along the northern and western foothills of the Pyrenees. A few hot spots are also found in the high elevations adjacent to snow and some appear to be near or over the border with Spain, located south of France.
While it is not possible to determine the cause of fires from satellite imagery alone, given the high number of fires, time of year, and location, it is likely that these fires are managed burns for agriculture. Called “écobuage” in this area (or “controlled burn” in English), such fires are often used to enhance productivity in croplands or renew pasture. In many areas, such as the Pyrenees, such fires fall under strong legal control, with farmers being required to obtain a license before igniting a burn.
At times, controlled burns may escape to become wildfires.
According to fire hazard reporting via Zoom Earth, at least one large wildfire was burning in France just north of the border with Spain. On February 27, that fire was reported to have burnt more than 17,000 acres.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 2/26/2026
Resolutions:
1km (49.7 KB), 500m (172.5 KB), 250m (515.9 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Dozens of fires dotted green valleys along the snow-capped Pyrenees in late February 2026. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of the region on February 26.
Red “hot spots” have been added to the image to mark the locations where the thermal bands on the MODIS instrument detected high temperatures. When combined with typical smoke (as seen here) such hot spots mark actively burning fire.
Most of the smoke and fires are in southeastern France and stretch along the northern and western foothills of the Pyrenees. A few hot spots are also found in the high elevations adjacent to snow and some appear to be near or over the border with Spain, located south of France. While it is not possible to determine the cause of fires from satellite imagery alone, given the high number of fires, time of year, and location, it is likely that these fires are managed burns for agriculture. Called “écobuage” in this area (or “controlled burn” in English), such fires are often used to enhance productivity in croplands or renew pasture. In many areas, such as the Pyrenees, such fires fall under strong legal control, with farmers being required to obtain a license before igniting a burn. At times, controlled burns may escape to become wildfires.
According to fire hazard reporting via Zoom Earth, at least one large wildfire was burning in France just north of the border with Spain. On February 27, that fire was reported to have burnt more than 17,000 acres.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 2/26/2026
Resolutions:
1km (49.7 KB), 500m (172.5 KB), 250m (515.9 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
