If you’re checking the air quality or looking out the window wondering where are the fires now, the answer isn’t as simple as a single red dot on a map. Right now, on January 13, 2026, we are witnessing a bizarre, bifurcated fire season. While North America is largely in a winter slumber—save for some controlled burns and small flare-ups in the South—the Southern Hemisphere is currently a literal tinderbox.
Victoria, Australia is the current epicenter of global concern.
It’s been a rough week. Since January 10, the Australian state of Victoria has been battling its most severe bushfire crisis since the catastrophic 2019–2020 season. We aren't just talking about a few localized blazes. Over 400,000 hectares have already burned. To give you some perspective, that's an area larger than Rhode Island, scorched in just a matter of days.
The Global Hotspots: Where the Smoke is Thickest
In Australia, the "Longwood Complex" and the "Walwa–Mount Lawson" fires are the names keeping emergency crews awake. These fires aren't just in remote bushland; they’ve torn through communities like Gobur, Ruffy, and areas near Castlemaine. Sadly, we know of at least one fatality—a cattle farmer named Max Hobson—and hundreds of homes have been leveled. The Victoria Premier, Jacinta Allan, hasn't minced words: the worst isn't over. With 10 major fires still out of control, the "where" is shifting with every gust of wind.
Meanwhile, South America is seeing its own version of hell.
Patagonia, a place people usually visit for glaciers and pristine forests, is currently choking on smoke. In Argentina's Chubut province, the Los Alerces National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site—is under direct threat. NASA’s MODIS satellite has been picking up massive plumes since January 6. As of today, January 13, the Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) reports that over 50,000 hectares have burned across Patagonia.
- Argentina: The Epuyén fire is the big one here, having charred nearly 12,000 hectares on its own.
- Chile: Further north, the National Forest Corporation (CONAF) is tracking 451 separate wildfires that have popped up since New Year's Day.
It’s a stark reminder that while the US and Europe are shivering, the bottom half of the globe is in the middle of a "very extreme" fire danger forecast.
What’s Happening in the United States Right Now?
You might be seeing smoke in the US and wondering if the "fire season" started early. Actually, most of what you're seeing today, January 13, is intentional. In Oregon, for instance, the Deschutes National Forest is conducting a 361-acre "pile burn" south of Crescent Lake Junction.
It’s a weird sight. You see the smoke from Highway 58 and think the worst, but these are "fuels treatments." Basically, firefighters are burning the leftover debris from forest management to make sure that when summer hits, there’s less stuff to explode into a real wildfire.
There are a few "real" fires, though. Kentucky, Texas, and Missouri are currently reporting active large fires, though they are mostly approaching full containment. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) shows about 1,494 acres active across these states. Compared to the millions of acres we see in August, it's quiet. But 2026 is already ahead of 2024 and 2025 in terms of "year-to-date" fire counts. Since January 1, the US has seen 870 fires. That’s a jump.
The Mystery of the Overstrand Fires
South Africa is also on the map today, and for a frustrating reason. In the Overstrand Municipality, the Pearly Beach and Stanford fires have been raging for ten days. About 30,000 hectares are gone.
Here is the twist: authorities suspect arson.
The Overstrand Municipality recently offered a reward for information because they’ve been battling an "unprecedented number of fires" since November. Just yesterday, police arrested a 23-year-old woman and two teenagers after a witness saw them near a graveyard where a fire had just started. It highlights a nuance people often miss: weather primes the land, but humans—whether through negligence or intent—are often the spark.
👉 See also: The Nanking Massacre: Why This History Still Matters Today
Real-Time Monitoring Limitations
If you are trying to track these yourself, be aware that NASA’s FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) is actually undergoing maintenance right now, from Jan 13 to Jan 14. This means some of the "real-time" email alerts and data downloads might be laggy for the next 24 hours.
Actionable Steps for Staying Safe
Waiting for the news to tell you where the fires are is a reactive move. You need to be proactive, especially if you live in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
1. Monitor the Right Sources
Don't rely on social media rumors. For the US, bookmark the NIFC "National Fire News" page. In Australia, the VicEmergency app is the gold standard for real-time alerts. For global views, the Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery provides the most accurate "burn scar" data.
2. Understand "Pile Burning" vs. "Wildfire"
If you see smoke in the winter, check your local Forest Service or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) social media pages first. Most winter smoke in North America is a "prescribed burn." These actually help prevent the fires people search for during the summer.
3. Prepare for "Ember Attack"
Most homes lost to fires aren't hit by a wall of flame; they are ignited by embers flying miles ahead of the main fire. If you’re in a high-risk zone in the Southern Hemisphere right now, clean your gutters today. Dry leaves in a gutter are the most common way a house catches fire from a blaze that is still miles away.
4. Air Quality is a Global Issue
Even if the fire isn't in your backyard, the PM2.5 particles are. Use an app like AirVisual or PurpleAir to track smoke drift. If the AQI hits over 150, your N95 mask isn't just for viruses—it's for your lungs.
The "where" of fires is currently a tale of two worlds. One hemisphere is burning its trash and debris to stay safe, while the other is fighting for its life against a record-breaking summer. Stay vigilant, watch the wind, and keep your emergency bags packed if you're in the path of the Patagonian or Victorian blazes.