Abstract: We summarized and classified approaches of detecting coal fire using thermal infrared band of satellite at home and abroad, especially contrasted and analyzed characteristics of inversion method of surface temperature of medium-resolution thermal infrared satellite, as well as that of pick-up algorithm of coal fire region, reviewed study progress and major problems of detecting coal fire with airborne thermal infrared remote sensing. Finally we indicated a new direction and development tendency of monitoring coal fire based on remote sensing method in mines.