--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters" developer_entity: "Disaster Science Pty Ltd" bundle_id: "io.bushfire.ui" app_store_id: "1505151045" category: "Reference" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-09-01" report_date: "2026-09-12" last_verified: "2026-09-12T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "4.6.4" total_reviews: 165 overall_rating: 3 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 25 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.8 top_praise_theme: "Real-time incident data provides more informative and less dramatic emergency updates than competing government applications" top_complaint_theme: "App stability and performance regressions following the latest update cause frequent crashes and black screens" review_sample_size: 50 total_review_count: 50 analyzed_review_count: 50 data_age_days: 24 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 2 nemesis: "Frontline Wildfire Tracker" competitor_count: 28 tags: ["reference", "freemium", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "individuals", "living", "high-risk"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/bushfire-io-natural-disasters" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Reference · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 3.01 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: App stability and performance regressions following the latest update cause frequent crashes and black screens (top complaint) · Real-time incident data provides more informative and less dramatic emergency updates than competing government applications (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters is a reference app by Disaster Science Pty Ltd, rated 3.01/5 by 165 users, with Frustrated user sentiment (25/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters faces Frustrated user sentiment (3.01/5 from 165 reviews), with users reporting app stability and performance regressions following the latest update cause frequent crashes and black screens as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 3.01/5 (165 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Reference | | **Developer** | Disaster Science Pty Ltd | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.8/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 24d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Disaster Science Pty Ltd - **Category:** Reference - **Target Audience:** Individuals living in high-risk areas, emergency volunteers, and professional organizations requiring real-time situational awareness. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 4.6.4 - **Report Date:** 2026-09-12 - **Signal Count:** 50 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.8/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1505151045 - **Bundle ID:** io.bushfire.ui - **Google Play ID:** io.bushfire.ui - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-09-12 - **Short Description:** Stay Safe with Real-Time Disaster Updates ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Bushfire.io is a multi-hazard disaster monitoring app for residents in Australia, the USA, and Canada, featuring an interactive map and real-time alerts. **Why users hire it:** Users open the app to gain situational awareness during active emergencies, displacing the need to monitor multiple fragmented government websites. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Real-Time Disaster Alerts:** Immediate push notifications for emergencies based on user location. * *User Intent:* Users want timely prompts to stay engaged without missing updates. - **[Standard] Interactive Disaster Map:** Visualizes hotspots, warning areas, and weather conditions on a unified map interface. - **[Differentiator] Pro-Tier Advanced Alerts:** SMS and email-based notifications for incident monitoring. * *User Intent:* Users want timely prompts to stay engaged without missing updates. ## Market Position {#market-position} Bushfire.io maintains a #10 Grossing position in the Australian Weather category, reflecting its strong regional utility. However, the 3.0 rating on Android, contrasted with the 5.0 rating on iOS, signals a significant platform-specific quality gap that threatens its market standing. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free core access, Pro and Business subscription plans - **Analysis:** Freemium model gates advanced monitoring and multi-channel alerts behind Pro and Business tiers to fund operational costs. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 50 of 50 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 3.01/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 5.0/5 (1 ratings) | Android 3.0/5 (164 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated ### Top Praises - **Real-time incident data provides more informative and less dramatic emergency updates than competing government applications** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **App stability and performance regressions following the latest update cause frequent crashes and black screens** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Multi-hazard data aggregation establishes category authority - Community-sharing features via SMS/email drive retention **Growth Levers:** - Manual pin-drop feature would capture the underserved rural property-owner segment ## Recent Changes (v1 → v2) {#recent-changes} Bushfire.io has transitioned to a maintenance-only development cycle, resulting in severe technical regressions that have negatively impacted user sentiment and platform reliability. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-09-12 ### High-impact changes - **[Declined] Negative Sentiment Shift** (sentiment) - **[Shifted] Maintenance Mode** (positioning) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Technical Instability Weakness** (swot) ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters vs Frontline Wildfire Tracker - **[Frontline Wildfire Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-firefriends-frontline)**: Both applications target individuals in wildfire-prone regions by providing real-time disaster mapping and safety information for emergency situational awareness. - **Key differences:** - Bushfire.io provides multi-disaster coverage including floods and storms, while Frontline focuses exclusively on wildfire activity. - Bushfire.io integrates verified data from local authorities, whereas users report accuracy concerns with Frontline fire data. - Bushfire.io enables direct social sharing of alerts, while Frontline focuses on internal emergency contact management tools. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **Alberta Emergency Alert**: Both applications provide real-time disaster alerts and mapping for life-threatening events, competing for users seeking localized emergency information. - Alberta Emergency Alert includes a Follow Me feature for location-based alerts while traveling, a capability not present in Bushfire.io. - Alberta Emergency Alert allows users to filter specific emergency categories, providing granular control over notification types. - **Forest Fire detection**: Both applications provide interactive map-based wildfire monitoring, competing for users who require real-time disaster awareness and location-based alerts. - Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters includes alerts for floods, storms, and cyclones, while EarthTech AI focuses exclusively on wildfire detection. - Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters provides social sharing tools for SMS and email, whereas EarthTech AI targets professional research and environmental monitoring. - **Earthwise Disaster Tracker**: Both applications provide real-time natural disaster monitoring and location-based alerts, competing for users seeking emergency situational awareness. - Bushfire.io focuses on bushfire, flood, and storm alerts across Australia, the USA, and Canada. - Earthwise Disaster Tracker provides global monitoring for earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity. - **Wildfire monitor - Pyriskopos**: Both applications target residents in fire-prone regions by providing real-time mapping and alerts for active wildfire events. - Bushfire.io provides multi-hazard alerts for floods, storms, and cyclones, while Pyriskopos focuses exclusively on wildfire tracking. - Bushfire.io integrates verified local authority data, whereas Pyriskopos relies on satellite fire detection for its mapping. - **Disaster Map**: Both apps provide real-time disaster tracking and map-based alerts, targeting users seeking situational awareness during natural emergencies. - Bushfire.io provides verified local authority data for Australia, the USA, and Canada. - Disaster Map offers global event tracking including earthquakes, volcanoes, and drought conditions. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[Storm Tracker° - Weather Radar](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-itwcalculator-fullscreenradarusafree)**: Monitors severe weather patterns like hurricanes and tornadoes, serving as a meteorological companion to wildfire-specific tracking. - Provides 10-day hourly forecasts across North America and Europe. - Offers Doppler-based rain and snow radar. - **[Emergency: Severe Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/org-redcross-hazards)**: Provides official weather alerts and disaster preparedness resources, acting as a safety-focused alternative for general hazard monitoring. - Includes official NOAA weather alerts and disaster preparedness resources. - Offers guidance on emergency response and shelter locations. - **[MétéoMédia](https://marlvel.ai/apps/the-weather-network)**: Supplies localized weather forecasts and storm monitoring, functioning as a general-purpose weather utility alongside specialized disaster apps. - Offers 35-year history of reliability. - Provides granular planning tools ranging from hourly updates to 14-day outlooks. - **[Wildfire - Fire Map Info](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wildfires-lwbrandsllc)**: Targets fire-prone regions with professional-grade satellite data, competing directly with wildfire-specific tracking features. - Utilizes MODIS and VIIRS satellite data for high-precision tracking. - Includes NFDRS Dead Fuel Moisture data. - **[Earthquake+ Erdbeben Warnung](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-briteapps-ozquake)**: Aggregates global seismic and volcanic data, providing specialized monitoring for non-fire natural disasters. - Integrates data from over 30 global sources including USGS and Smithsonian Institution. - **[Firesource - Live Wildfires](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-hemaldoshi-firesource1)**: Tracks wildfire perimeters and air quality, offering incident-specific data similar to wildfire-focused disaster apps. - Aggregates incident data from InciWeb, Cal Fire, and IRWIN. - Includes a crowdsourced reporting feature for fire incidents. - **[Disaster Alert (PDC Global)](https://marlvel.ai/apps/disaster-alert-pdc-global)**: Provides global hazard updates, serving as a multi-hazard alternative to localized disaster tracking tools. - Built on the DisasterAWARE platform for visualized hazard data. - Tracks 18 types of natural hazards globally. - **[FEMA](https://marlvel.ai/apps/gov-fema-mobile-ios-fema)**: Offers government-backed disaster recovery and preparedness resources, acting as a primary safety tool for users in the United States. - Aggregates real-time weather and emergency alerts from NWS and IPAWS. - Provides actionable guidance for emergency planning. - **FloodWatch**: Monitors river levels and streamflow, providing specialized flood data for users interested in water-related disaster risks. - Tracks river height and discharge from thousands of USGS gauges. - Provides historical trends and graphs. - **Waterbomber Wildfire Tracker**: Tracks firefighting aircraft, offering a niche perspective on wildfire response operations for interested users. - Follows spotter planes and waterbombers live on radar. - Allows setting notifications for specific aircraft activity. - **Wildfire App－Fire Tracker・Maps**: Uses a human-verified reporting network for wildfire tracking, providing an alternative to automated satellite-based feeds. - Employs a team of firefighters and first responders for real-time verification. - Monitors radio channels around the clock. - **[Ward: World Emergency Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app-bunkersapp-bunkers)**: Locates bunkers and storm shelters, serving as a specialized preparedness utility for high-intent survivalist users. - Provides a specialized directory of shelter profiles. - Offers a map-based shelter locator. - **Alertable**: Delivers public safety and weather alerts, functioning as a notification system for community-level emergencies. - Provides Canada-wide public safety alerts from the Alert Ready system. - Includes severe weather alerts from Environment Canada. - **FireWatch: AI Space Monitoring**: Uses predictive analytics and satellite imagery to assess wildfire risk, providing a technical forecasting tool for prevention. - Utilizes AI-powered predictive analytics for wildfire risk assessment. - Integrates weather data and satellite imagery. - **[Japan Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/apps/japan-alerts-earthquake)**: Provides localized disaster notifications for Japan, serving as a safety tool for residents and travelers in that region. - Translates data from the Japan Meteorological Agency into 10 languages. - Includes an S-wave earthquake countdown. - **[Active Wildfire Tracker Map](https://marlvel.ai/apps/active-wildfire-tracker-map)**: Monitors wildfire activity in the US, providing a geographic tracking tool for users concerned with fire spread. - Uses hourly data updates for fire locations. - Integrates GPS for map visualization. - **FloodNotice**: Tracks streamflow and river conditions, offering a interface for flood monitoring across the United States. - Displays streamflow forecasts from the National Water Prediction Service. - Covers all 50 U.S. states. - **[Fire Watch and Alerts](https://marlvel.ai/apps/fire-watch-and-alerts)**: Combines satellite data with community reports to track wildfires, providing a high-trust signal for residents in fire-prone areas. - Uses on-device AI for photo verification of fire reports. - Integrates NASA satellite data for detection. - **Flood Alert Watcher**: Provides flood alerts and weather warnings for the UK, serving as a safety companion for flood-prone areas. - Sources data directly from the Environment Agency. - Features interactive maps of flood zones. - **Prodigy Wildfire**: Controls protection systems and monitors wildfire activity, serving as a property-focused utility for homeowners. - Enables control of proprietary wildfire protection systems. - Monitors publicly available wildfire activity via EmberWatch. ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **BUSHFIRE.AI**: Uses video feeds for early bushfire detection, providing a monitoring solution for emergency response teams. - Monitors 24/7 panoramic video feeds for smoke detection. - Covers up to 300 square kilometers per camera. - **TerraWarn: Disaster Alerts**: Provides real-time hazard alerts from official sources, acting as a notification system for various natural disasters. - Sources data directly from USGS, NASA, and official government agencies. - Includes fault-line overlays for earthquake risk. ## What's New - **Latest (v4.6.4, 1 weeks ago):** Introduced hotspot filters for satellite source, recency, and power output to improve fire activity assessment. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Shipped satellite-based hotspot filters. - Quiet 8 months, maintenance-only cadence. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 1 majors in last 6 months · 243 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters is a reference app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 3.01/5 rating from 165 reviews, it faces significant user friction. > **Bottom Line:** Bushfire.io provides superior information density compared to official feeds, but the current technical instability renders it unreliable for emergency use. Prioritizing stability fixes over new features is the only way to retain the user base during the fire season. **Best for:** Individuals living in high-risk areas, emergency volunteers, and professional organizations requiring real-time situational awareness. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Rebuild notification persistence logic because settings are failing to trigger alerts → restore emergency utility ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Follow Me location-based alerts (available in Alberta Emergency Alert but missing here) ### Outlook: Declining The outlook for Bushfire.io is declining as technical instability persists through the fire season. Unless the developer resolves the rendering and notification failures, the app will lose its competitive edge to more reliable government-backed alternatives, resulting in a permanent loss of the high-intent user base. - 🔴 Technical regressions in the latest release cause frequent crashes, which accelerates user churn to official government alternatives. - 🔴 Missing incident data on the map prevents effective monitoring, directly undermining the core value proposition for users. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 3.01/5 | | Total Reviews | 165 | | Sentiment | Frustrated (25/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Bushfire.io: Natural Disasters** (this app) | 3.01/5 | Frustrated | Disaster Science Pty Ltd | | [Storm Tracker°](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-itwcalculator-fullscreenradarusafree) | 4.6/5 | N/A | Impala Studios | | [Emergency: Severe Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/org-redcross-hazards) | 4.8/5 | N/A | American Red Cross | | [Frontline Wildfire Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-firefriends-frontline) | 2.3/5 | N/A | Fire Friends, LLC | | [Wildfire - Fire Map Info](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wildfires-lwbrandsllc) | 4.4/5 | Excited | LW Brands, LLC | | [FEMA](https://marlvel.ai/apps/gov-fema-mobile-ios-fema) | 4.4/5 | N/A | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Disaster Science Pty Ltd - **Website:** [https://bushfire.io](https://bushfire.io) - **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bushfireio) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/bushfire.io) · [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/company/disaster-science) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bushfire-io-natural-disasters/id1505151045?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.bushfire.ui) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://bushfire.io) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Storm Tracker°*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-itwcalculator-fullscreenradarusafree) (Impala Studios) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*Emergency: Severe Weather App*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/org-redcross-hazards) (American Red Cross) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*Frontline Wildfire Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-firefriends-frontline) (Fire Friends, LLC) · 2.3/5 Rating - [*Wildfire - Fire Map Info*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wildfires-lwbrandsllc) (LW Brands, LLC) · 4.4/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*FEMA*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/gov-fema-mobile-ios-fema) (Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*Earthquake+ Alerts & Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-briteapps-ozquake) (Slava Barouline) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*Ward: Shelters and Bunkers*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app-bunkersapp-bunkers) (Marijn Klok) · 4.5/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Japan Alerts - Earthquake*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/japan-alerts-earthquake) (Itchigoo) · N/A Rating - [*The Weather Network*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/the-weather-network) (Pelmorex Corp.) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*Disaster Alert (PDC Global)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/disaster-alert-pdc-global) (Pacific Disaster Center) · 4.2/5 Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Bushfire.io reliable for emergency alerts? While users praise the information density, recent updates have caused stability issues and missing data, making it less reliable than official government emergency services during critical events. ### How does Bushfire.io compare to government apps? Bushfire.io aggregates multi-hazard data into a single, interactive map, which users find more informative than fragmented government websites, though it currently suffers from technical instability. ### What is a free alternative for disaster alerts? Users often consider official government apps like FEMA or local emergency services, which provide high-trust, verified alerts for specific regions. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.8/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 50 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 24 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/bushfire-io-natural-disasters) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.