EFFIS: Europe's Wildfire Monitoring System Explained

The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) is the European Union's primary tool for monitoring and forecasting wildfire activity across Europe and the Mediterranean. Operated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, EFFIS provides near-real-time fire data, danger forecasts, and damage assessments that are used by civil protection agencies, firefighters, and citizens across 40+ countries.

This guide explains what EFFIS offers and how to use it effectively for wildfire monitoring in Europe.

What Is EFFIS?

EFFIS was established in 2000 to provide a harmonized system for monitoring wildfires across European nations. It serves four main purposes:

Coverage Area

EFFIS covers:

Data Sources

EFFIS integrates data from:

EFFIS Components Explained

1. Current Situation (Fire Map)

The EFFIS fire map is the most popular feature. It shows:

**How to use**: Visit [effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu](https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/), click on the map, and select your layers of interest.

2. Fire Danger Forecast

EFFIS uses the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System to predict fire danger across Europe. The forecast extends **10 days into the future** with daily updates.

#### FWI Components

#### Danger Levels

|-----------|-------------|---------|

3. Burned Area Mapping

EFFIS uses satellite imagery (primarily Sentinel-2) to map burned area perimeters within days of a fire. This provides:

4. European Fire Database

The most comprehensive wildfire database in the world, containing:

5. Country-Level Statistics

Annual reports with:

How to Use EFFIS for Travel Safety

Before Traveling to Southern Europe

During Your Trip

EFFIS and the EU Crisis Response

EFFIS feeds directly into the EU's emergency response mechanism:

rescEU Firefighting Fleet

EU Civil Protection Mechanism

EFFIS Mobile and API

Mobile Access

EFFIS is fully mobile-responsive. Key features available on mobile:

API Access

For developers and researchers:

EFFIS vs. National Systems

EFFIS complements (not replaces) national wildfire monitoring:

|---------|----------------|--------------------|

**Best practice**: Use EFFIS for overview and forecasting, national systems for local detail.

FAQ: EFFIS

Is EFFIS data available to the public?

Yes, all EFFIS tools and data are freely available at [effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu](https://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/). No registration is required to use the map and forecast tools.

How accurate is EFFIS burned area mapping?

EFFIS provides two levels of accuracy:

Can EFFIS predict specific fires?

No. EFFIS predicts fire DANGER (conditions favorable for fires), not specific fire events. It cannot predict where or when a fire will start — only that conditions are favorable.

Does EFFIS cover outside Europe?

EFFIS focuses on Europe and the Mediterranean. For global coverage, use [NASA FIRMS](/blog/nasa-firms-fire-map-how-to-use-track-wildfires) or [Global Forest Watch](/blog/global-forest-watch-fire-alerts-guide).

*Related: [Mediterranean Wildfires Travel Advice](/blog/mediterranean-wildfires-greece-spain-italy-travel-advice) | [NASA FIRMS Guide](/blog/nasa-firms-fire-map-how-to-use-track-wildfires) | [Global Forest Watch Guide](/blog/global-forest-watch-fire-alerts-guide)*