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To assist users in identifying detected fires or other thermal activity not associated with the controlled or uncontrolled burning of vegetation, the FIRMS team dynamically analyzes all sources of polar-orbiting active fire detection data (MODIS, VIIRS, and OLI/Landsat) with the Static Thermal Anomalies – Mask to tag detected activity that is likely associated with industrial heat sources or other types of natural heat sources. These dynamically identified detections are represented in the Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections layer and represent probable fires or other heat sources not associated with vegetation fires for the current date range displayed in the FIRMS Fire Map that has been defined by the user. The initial versions of both the Static Thermal Anomalies - Mask and Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections layers are currently provided within FIRMS in the EXPERIMENTAL MODE under the Static Thermal Anomalies accordion. The layers from the authoritative sources that contain the locations of industrial heat sources and other natural heat sources, and were used to filter the Static Thermal Anomalies – Mask, are also provided for reference under the INDUSTRIAL PLANTS AND POWER PLANTS accordions. 

The Figure below provides below provides an example of how these layers are used in the FIRMS Fire Map viewer. This example shows the Hughes Fire in California which started at approximately 11:00 AM PST on January 22, 2025 and burned the area surrounding Castaic Lake (red detections). The Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections layer also indicates detected fire activity (cyan) in the southwest corner of the map that occurred in the overnight hours of January 23 associated with a landfill to the northwest of Santa Clarita. These detections are spatially associated with the Static Thermal Anomalies - Mask feature (pink polygon) encompassing that general area. The detected thermal activity is likely due to waste to energy creation activities conducted at the site, as noted in the World Resources Institute Power Plant Database, one of industrial heat source datasets used by FIRMS to develop the Static Thermal Anomalies - Mask. Recent media stories also indicate the landfill has experienced issues in recent years with a persistent underground fire in a portion of the landfill which also may be a contributing factor for these detections. This combination of the Static Thermal Anomalies - Mask layer and Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections, allows FIRMS users to discern that the detected fire activity in the southwest corner of the map is related to these documented activities at the landfill and not associated with the Hughes Fire approximately 9 km to the north. To view this example in FIRMS, use this link 

These initial versions of the Static Thermal Anomalies - Mask and Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections layers will continue to be further refined and improved. NASA FIRMS accepts no responsibility for the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the industrial/natural heat source data and, consequently, users should review available metadata about these data available from the data source links provided in the FIRMS layer information and apply appropriate caution when using them or derived Static Thermal Anomalies - Detections data.

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