How to Customize the Fires Displayed in FIRMS

This blog post shows you how to:

• change the colors of the fires/thermal anomalies
• change the fire pixel size
• show only day or night detections
• color code fires by Fire Radiative Power (FRP), Confidence or Time Since Detection

CHANGE FIRE COLOR BY INSTRUMENT

The default color for the MODIS and VIIRS thermal anomalies is red. There are times when it is useful to be able to distinguish between instruments (MODIS/VIIRS) or day/night detections. To do this Select ADVANCED MODE in the Layer List on the right of the map (see image below)

Select the "+" icon next to the fire detections you want to change.

Select the drop down arrow to the right of the color and a color wheel will appear. Select a color and press apply.

This step can be repeated for other fire detection categories.

CHANGE FIRE PIXEL SIZE

The fire pixel size defaults to the optimal display for the zoom level. When zoomed into the highest zoom levels, MODIS pixels maintain a size of approximately 1km and VIIRS approximately 375m

To change the pixel size, make sure ADVANCED MODE is selected (as shown above). Click the "+" icon and then click the drop down arrow next to the word "Auto"

Adjust the pixel size from the drop down list

SHOW ONLY DAY / NIGHT FIRES

By default, the map shows both Day time and night time fires, to view only day time fires, may sure ADVANCED MODE is selected (as shown above). Click the "+" icon then click on "Night" to deselect it and it is greyed out. To view only nighttime fires, click on "Night" to turn both back on and then click on "Day" so it is greyed out.

VIEW FIRES BY FRP, CONFIDENCE or TIME SINCE DETECTION

To view fires using Fire Radiative Power (FRP), Confidence or Time Since Detection, select "ADVANCED MODE" in the Layer List, then select the drop down arrow next to the word "Fires" for the fire detections you want to change.

Time Since Detection shows the fires < 1, 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-24, and >24 Hours since the fires were detected by the satellite. Enable this by selecting "Time Based" in either Basic or Advanced Mode.