Overall Green Forest fire in Zambia from 19 Aug 2026 00:00 UTC to 01 Sep 2026 00:00 UTC

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve awareness, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

Forest Fire (22003 ha) in Zambia 19 Aug 2026

Event summary

This forest fire is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID	WF 1031237
Countries:	Zambia
Start Date - Last detection*:	19 Aug 2026 - 03 Sep 2026
Duration (days):	15
People affected:	2194 in the burned area
Burned area:	22003 ha
More Info:	Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.

Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

28 Aug 15:27 29 Aug 15:29 30 Aug 15:36 31 Aug 15:38 01 Sep 11:59 02 Sep 08:18

Impact Timeline

ID	Score	Population Affected	Burned Area (ha)	Last Update	Source
1	0.5	735	5346	28 Aug 2026 14:02	GWIS
2	0.5	865	8779	29 Aug 2026 14:02	GWIS
3	0.5	939	11139	30 Aug 2026 14:02	GWIS
4	0.5	988	12025	31 Aug 2026 14:02	GWIS
5	0.5	1321	13587	01 Sep 2026 10:01	GWIS
6	0.5	2194	22003	02 Sep 2026 06:02	GWIS
7	0.5	2194	22018	02 Sep 2026 10:01	GWIS
8	0.5	2251	22328	02 Sep 2026 14:02	GWIS
9	0.5	2395	25175	03 Sep 2026 06:01	GWIS
10	0.5	2395	25194	03 Sep 2026 10:02	GWIS

Fires Joined

This event includes other close identified fires:

Exposed population

The forest fire happened in Zambia , Province of Northern (population 974,374) .

Radius	Population
10 km	48000 people
5 km	10000 people
2 km	6900 people
1 km	6300 people
Burned Area	2400 people

Affected Provinces

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.

Disclaimer - Copyright
While we try everything to ensure accuracy, this information is purely indicative and should not be used for any decision making without alternate sources of information.
The JRC is not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the use of the information presented on this website.
The designations employed and the presentation of material on the map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.