Overall Green Forest fire in Nigeria from 20 Jan 2026 00:00 UTC to 03 Feb 2026 00:00 UTC

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve awareness, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

Forest Fire (16851 ha) in Nigeria 20 Jan 2026

Event summary

This forest fire is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID	WF 1027177
Countries:	Nigeria
Start Date - Last detection*:	20 Jan 2026 - 03 Feb 2026
Duration (days):	14
People affected:	1859 in the burned area
Burned area:	16851 ha
More Info:	Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.

Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Impact Timeline

ID	Score	Population Affected	Burned Area (ha)	Last Update	Source
1	0.5	768	5207	26 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
2	0.5	1041	8376	27 Jan 2026 03:00	GWIS
3	0.5	1170	9303	27 Jan 2026 07:00	GWIS
4	0.5	1170	9322	27 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
5	0.5	1339	10396	27 Jan 2026 23:00	GWIS
6	0.5	1341	10971	28 Jan 2026 11:00	GWIS
7	0.5	1341	11044	28 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
8	0.5	1341	11344	28 Jan 2026 19:00	GWIS
9	0.5	1581	11832	28 Jan 2026 23:00	GWIS
10	0.5	1581	11833	29 Jan 2026 03:00	GWIS
11	0.5	1583	12304	29 Jan 2026 11:00	GWIS
12	0.5	1583	12482	29 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
13	0.5	1598	13385	29 Jan 2026 23:00	GWIS
14	0.5	1597	14157	30 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
15	0.5	1723	14725	31 Jan 2026 03:00	GWIS
16	0.5	1809	14898	31 Jan 2026 07:00	GWIS
17	0.5	1809	14906	31 Jan 2026 15:00	GWIS
18	0.5	1818	15742	31 Jan 2026 19:00	GWIS
19	0.5	1820	15809	01 Feb 2026 03:00	GWIS
20	0.5	1823	16007	01 Feb 2026 11:00	GWIS
21	0.5	1823	16136	01 Feb 2026 15:00	GWIS
22	0.5	1828	16607	02 Feb 2026 11:00	GWIS
23	0.5	1843	16741	02 Feb 2026 15:00	GWIS
24	0.5	1843	16780	02 Feb 2026 23:00	GWIS
25	0.5	1843	16780	03 Feb 2026 15:00	GWIS
26	0.5	1859	16851	04 Feb 2026 19:00	GWIS

Fires Joined

This event includes other close identified fires:

Exposed population

The forest fire happened in Nigeria , State of Taraba (population 1,626,354) . The nearest places are and Jalingo.

Radius	Population
10 km	19000 people
5 km	6800 people
2 km	3900 people
1 km	3200 people
Burned Area	1900 people

Affected Provinces

Region Province	Country	Population
Taraba	Nigeria	1.6 million people
Adamawa	Nigeria	2.3 million people

Affected populated places

Name	Region Province	Country	City class	Population	Distance
Jalingo		Nigeria	City	120000 people	84 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Ports

Dams

Nuclear plants

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.

Disclaimer
While we try everything to ensure accuracy, this information is purely indicative and should not be used for any decision making without alternate sources of information.
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The designations employed and the presentation of material on the map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.