Real-time coverage of wildfires event — Wildfire Maze, Madison, Idaho — Pandita Data.
🔥 OPEN LIVE 3D WILDFIRE GLOBEThe Maze Wildfire ignited near Madison, Idaho (43.829°N, 111.957°W) on July 6, 2026, in the Centennial Mountains region of eastern Idaho, posing immediate evacuation risks and severe air quality degradation across three states. Located 45 kilometers northwest of West Yellowstone, the fire erupted during peak summer conditions when mountain fuel moisture drops below critical thresholds, enabling rapid fire propagation. Early reports indicate aggressive growth driven by drought conditions and sustained winds from the southwest, threatening populated mountain valleys and critical wildlife corridors adjacent to Yellowstone National Park.
The Centennial Mountains experience extreme fire behavior during summer due to dense coniferous forests (lodgepole pine, spruce-fir) with high fuel loads and pronounced elevation gradients that accelerate upslope wind flow. Idaho's 2026 drought deficit—cumulative snowpack 60% below normal—has reduced fuel moisture to 3–5%, well below the 8% threshold needed to suppress ignition and spread. When ambient air temperatures exceed 32°C and relative humidity falls below 20%, pyrolysis of pine needles occurs at lower temperatures, and fire spread rates can exceed 30 meters per minute uphill, a phenomenon driven by convection and radiant heat pre-drying fuels ahead of the flame front.
Real-time NOAA/GOES-16 infrared and visible imagery detects active fire perimeter, radiative heat release rate (MW), and smoke plume altitude and direction. USGS Landsat thermal bands (Band 10, 11) distinguish active flaming zones from smoldering areas. Air quality monitoring via EPA AirNow integrates NOAA HYSPLIT dispersion models to forecast smoke transport across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, enabling PM2.5 health alerts 12–24 hours ahead.
Fuel Moisture: 3–5% (critical ignition threshold). Wind: 25–35 km/h southwest, sustaining eastward spread. Temperature: 30°C+ daytime highs accelerate evaporation and convection. Smoke Impact: Tri-state air quality degradation; respiratory hazard extends 200+ km downwind. Community Exposure: Madison, Henry, Rexburg corridors within 60 km; evacuation zones active.
Smoke PM2.5 concentrations are forecast to exceed 150 µg/m³ (unhealthy) in downwind communities. Vulnerable populations (children, elderly, respiratory disease) should remain indoors with HEPA filtration; N95 masks provide limited protection outdoors. Monitor EPA AirNow real-time data and local health department guidance.
Track the Maze Wildfire and smoke dispersion in real-time using Pandita Data's integrated wildfire simulation tool, powered by live NOAA GOES-16 thermal imagery and USGS incident data.