ip=216.73.217.62
Geo & Visual Verification

NASA FIRMS API

NASA near-real-time fire and thermal anomaly data.

slug
nasa-firms-api
priority
72
reviewed
Apr 24, 2026
Next wavePhase 2Low riskAPIAccountapproved
01overview

How this source is shaped

Very useful for environmental, conflict-adjacent and crisis verification contexts. Best used when OSINT expands beyond cyber/domain intelligence.

Source type
Geospatial
Access model
Free With Account
Pricing model
Free MAP KEY Required For API Access
API available
Yes
Requires account
Yes
Risk level
Low
Sensitivity
Normal
Integration phase
Phase 2
Integration priority
72
02scoring

Review dimensions

Each dimension is graded on a 0–10 scale. The overall score is a weighted aggregate.

overall score
7.90/10

Weighted aggregate across the eight review dimensions.

Authorityreputation and provenance of the source
9.00/10
Data qualityaccuracy, coverage, completeness
8.10/10
Usabilityhow quickly an analyst can extract value
6.70/10
APIshape, stability and cost of programmatic access
7.50/10
Documentationhow well the source is explained and referenced
7.60/10
Freshnesshow up-to-date the data stream is
8.50/10
Ethical fitalignment with our ethical OSINT posture
8.90/10
Commercial valueproduct leverage and monetisable surface
6.60/10
03application

Where this source fits

What analysts use it for, and — just as important — where it does not belong.

Primary use cases
  • crisis_monitoring
  • environmental_osint
  • event_verification
  • geo_context
Suitable for
  • journalists
  • researchers
  • environmental_analysts
  • humanitarian_analysts
Not suitable for
  • person_tracking
  • non_contextual_alarmism
data types
fire_detectionsthermal_anomaliessatellite_observationsmodisviirs
04opinion

Editorial take

Our qualitative read on the source — tone, framing and trust posture.

Strong public-interest source. Not the commercial core, but excellent for authority and advanced editorial work.

05product

Integration stance

Build, buy or defer. What shape the product integration would take, and why.

Add as a specialized source in geo/event verification workflows.

06governance

Ethics and compliance

What to handle carefully, and what must not ship without sign-off.

Ethical notes

Explain confidence, satellite source and timestamp. Do not present thermal detections without context.

Compliance notes

Requires MAP_KEY and responsible use of NASA services.

07technical

Metadata

Catalog-side technical footer. Values as recorded in the source row.

source owner
NASA FIRMS
report module
environmental_event_context
integration candidate
true