[Image credit: Watch Duty/InciWeb]
The Next Generation Fire System (NGFS) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supported the emergency response to the Morrill Fire which became the largest wildfire in Nebraska history.
This experimental online tool uses data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 19 and AI-enhanced algorithms to identify new ignitions and fire intensity in near-real time.
Mike Pavolonis, NGFS developer and wildland fire program manager at NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service, said: “Geostationary satellites are constant sentinels.
“They enable detection of fires within 5 to 30 minutes of ignition.
“The NGFS is a force-multiplier that helps human decision-makers sift through enormous volumes of satellite imagery.”
The system provided data to Watch Duty which is a non-profit organization that delivers validated fire information to first responders and the public.
Watch Duty personnel utilized the shortwave channel on the GOES-19 satellite to track the spread of the fire across Nebraska between March 12 and March 13 2026.
Liam Winstead, the manager of operational intelligence and mapping at Watch Duty, said: “For our team, NOAA’s NGFS serves as a critical early-warning tool, particularly for initial detections in rural areas.
“In many cases, NGFS is our first – and sometimes only – signal that a fire has ignited, often alerting us before firefighters are dispatched.”
The science team behind the NGFS launched the Wildland Fire Data Portal in January 2026 to offer responders improved access to satellite information.
This portal allows organizations to visualize fire evolution by panning through time sequences of heat signatures.
During the Morrill Fire, the system identified an ignition at approximately 1:40 pm MT on March 12 before ground eyes or radio traffic were available.
Watch Duty issued alerts to the affected county 13 minutes after this initial detection as the heat signatures aligned with wind patterns.
Low humidity and high winds drove the fire more than 65 miles across the state by 9:00 pm on the first day.
Fire analysts from the U.S. Forest Service used the heat detections to estimate the perimeter of the blaze when aerial imaging or ground GPS tracking were not immediately available.
Satellite data showed the southern edge of the fire advancing toward populated areas during an evening wind shift.
The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the Morrill Fire was 100% contained on March 24 after burning 642,029 acres.
Pavolonis said: “Having minute-by-minute access to wildfire data is critical during an active fire.
“The NGFS provides the situational awareness that wildfire response teams need to protect lives and property, and the Wildland Fire Data Portal ensures quick and consistent access to this information.”
