Wildfire in Hendry County, Florida spreads across palmetto scrub driven by drought and trade winds; smoke degrades regional air quality. Real-time tracking via NOAA GOES-16 satellite data.
🔥 OPEN LIVE 3D WILDFIRE GLOBEA wildfire designated Green Gate (26) ignited in Hendry County, Florida on June 14, 2026, near coordinates 26.367°N, 81.166°W in the heart of South Florida's agricultural region. The fire has spread across multiple square miles of dry grassland and palmetto scrub, driven by persistent drought conditions and strong seasonal winds. Smoke plumes are affecting air quality across Southwest Florida, with hazardous particulate concentrations reaching unhealthy levels for vulnerable populations including children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory conditions.
Florida's June wildfire season coincides with the transition into the Atlantic hurricane season, when high atmospheric pressure systems create strong easterly winds that can rapidly propagate flames across flat terrain. Hendry County's landscape—dominated by saw palmetto, wiregrass, and agricultural fields—provides abundant fuel with low moisture content after months of below-average rainfall. The fire's behavior is governed by the fire triangle: heat from ignition, abundant oxygen in dry air, and continuous fuel, all amplified by wind speeds exceeding 15 mph that push flames forward and loft embers ahead of the main fire front.
Pandita Data integrates real-time NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery and USGS Landsat thermal data to detect active fire perimeters and track smoke plume dispersion every 15 minutes. Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) algorithms identify burned areas, while atmospheric transport models predict smoke impacts on air quality across Florida's Gulf Coast and inland communities.
Florida averages 7,000+ wildfires annually, with peak frequency in June and September. Smoke from major fires can travel 500+ miles, degrading air quality across multiple states. Hendry County's proximity to agricultural zones and rural highways increases risk to evacuating residents and responders.
Monitor live fire progression and smoke impacts on Pandita Data's wildfire simulation module, updated daily with satellite feeds and evacuation zone boundaries from Hendry County Emergency Management.