--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Fires Near Me Australia" developer_entity: "NSW Rural Fire Service" bundle_id: "au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearmeaus" app_store_id: "406270824" google_play_id: "au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearme.national" category: "Utilities" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-07-14" report_date: "2026-09-12" last_verified: "2026-09-12T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "6.6.0" total_reviews: 477 overall_rating: 4 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 25 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.8 top_praise_theme: "Real-time fire tracking and burn-off area visualization provide essential situational awareness for local residents" top_complaint_theme: "Critical notification delays of ten hours or more render the emergency alert system ineffective for safety" review_sample_size: 53 total_review_count: 53 analyzed_review_count: 53 data_age_days: 24 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 2 tags: ["utilities", "free", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "residents", "travelers", "australia"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/fires-near-me-australia" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Fires Near Me Australia Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Utilities · Free - **Signal**: Rating 3.98 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Critical notification delays of ten hours or more render the emergency alert system ineffective for safety (top complaint) · Real-time fire tracking and burn-off area visualization provide essential situational awareness for local residents (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Fires Near Me Australia is a utilities app by NSW Rural Fire Service, rated 3.98/5 by 477 users, with Frustrated user sentiment (25/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Fires Near Me Australia faces Frustrated user sentiment (3.98/5 from 477 reviews), with users reporting critical notification delays of ten hours or more render the emergency alert system ineffective for safety as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 3.98/5 (477 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Utilities | | **Developer** | NSW Rural Fire Service | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.8/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 24d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** NSW Rural Fire Service - **Category:** Utilities - **Target Audience:** Residents and travelers in Australia requiring real-time bush fire safety information and emergency warnings. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 6.6.1 - **Report Date:** 2026-09-12 - **Signal Count:** 53 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.8/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 406270824 - **Bundle ID:** au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearmeaus - **Google Play ID:** au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearme.national - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-09-12 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Fires Near Me Australia is a utility app for iOS and Android that provides real-time bush fire warnings and incident maps to residents and travelers in Australia. **Why users hire it:** The service provides a centralized, visual interface for emergency fire data, intended to reduce the time residents spend searching multiple agency websites during high-risk events. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Australian Warnings System:** Standardized warning categories (Advice, Watch and Act, Emergency Warning) applied to all incident data. - **[Standard] Interactive Incident Maps:** Dynamic map visualization of active bush fire locations and current status. - **[Differentiator] Personalized Watch Zones:** User-defined geographic regions for targeted push notifications regarding fire warnings. * *User Intent:* Users value self-expression and personalized experiences. ## Market Position {#market-position} Fires Near Me Australia holds a #97 Free rank in the Australian Utilities category. The low rating of 1.0 stars across 53 analyzed reviews signals that technical instability and notification delays are severely impacting user adoption. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free - **Analysis:** The app is a public service tool provided by the NSW Rural Fire Service with no monetization, IAP, or ad-supported tiers. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 53 of 53 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 3.98/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 1.0/5 (3 ratings) | Android 4.0/5 (474 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated ### Top Praises - **Real-time fire tracking and burn-off area visualization provide essential situational awareness for local residents** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Critical notification delays of ten hours or more render the emergency alert system ineffective for safety** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Standardized Australian Warnings System integration provides consistent incident categorization **Growth Levers:** - Implementing polygon-based watch zones would improve incident relevance for users in complex topography ## What's New - **Latest (v6.6.1, 1 months ago):** General bug fixes and stability improvements. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Ships bug fixes only. - No new feature builds. > **Cadence:** 2 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 59 days since last update · 6 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Fires Near Me Australia is an utilities app that is completely free. With a 3.98/5 rating from 477 reviews, it faces significant user friction. > **Bottom Line:** Removing the account wall and fixing notification latency would address the primary barriers to safety, as the current technical failures render the service unreliable for emergency use. Prioritizing these fixes is essential to restoring the app's utility as a trusted public safety tool. **Best for:** Residents and travelers in Australia requiring real-time bush fire safety information and emergency warnings. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [SUNSET] Sunset the forced account wall because it creates unnecessary friction during urgent situations → increase immediate access to safety data ### Outlook: Declining The outlook for Fires Near Me Australia is declining as technical failures and notification latency continue to undermine its core value proposition. Without a shift toward stabilizing the alert infrastructure, the app risks losing its standing as a primary source for emergency information in Australia. - 🔴 Persistent notification delays of ten hours or more erode the emergency alert system's utility, which compounds the rating drag already visible in reviews. - 🔴 Technical instability during map loading forces users to abandon the app, which limits the effectiveness of the service during high-risk bush fire periods. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 3.98/5 | | Total Reviews | 477 | | Sentiment | Frustrated (25/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Fires Near Me Australia** (this app) | 3.98/5 | Frustrated | NSW Rural Fire Service | | [Sota Connect: Secure Network](https://marlvel.ai/apps/fi-catconnect-sota) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Cat Connect | | [V2Box - V2ray Client](https://marlvel.ai/apps/v2box-v2ray-client) | 4.6/5 | n/a | techlaim | | [avoVPN Desktop](https://marlvel.ai/apps/avovpn-desktop) | N/A/5 | N/A | Avocado VPN Technologies | | [Free VPN by Free VPN .org™](https://marlvel.ai/apps/free-vpn-by-free-vpn-org) | 4.5/5 | Mixed | Free VPN LLC | | [Fusvob VPN : Super VPN 2026](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-toplinkc-foxexcellent) | 4.4/5 | Mixed | Fuxin Technology | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** NSW Rural Fire Service - **Website:** [https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=1154](https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=1154) - **Social:** [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs) · [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/NSWRFS) · [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/NSWRFS) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fires-near-me-australia/id406270824?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.nsw.rfs.firesnearme.national&hl=en&gl=us) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=1154) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Sota Connect: Secure Network*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/fi-catconnect-sota) (Cat Connect) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*V2Box - V2ray Client*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/v2box-v2ray-client) (techlaim) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*avoVPN Desktop*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/avovpn-desktop) (Avocado VPN Technologies) · N/A Rating - [*Free VPN by Free VPN .org™*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/free-vpn-by-free-vpn-org) (Free VPN LLC) · 4.5/5 Rating - [*Fusvob VPN : Super VPN 2026*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-toplinkc-foxexcellent) (Fuxin Technology) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*Potatso*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/potatso) (Potatso Lab LTD) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*Quantumult X*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/quantumult-x) (Cross Utility Ltd) · 3.8/5 Rating - [*VPN 365-Master WIFI Security*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/vpn-365-master-wifi-security) (vpn fast) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*카톡 분석 - 오픈채팅, 카톡 채팅 분석, 통계, 검색*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-liger-katalkanalysispaid) (Park Sung Cheol) · N/A Rating - [*로또 황금번호 생성기*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/lotto-lottogold) (jaehwan lee) · N/A Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Fires Near Me Australia reliable for emergency warnings? Users report significant issues with notification latency, with some alerts arriving ten hours after an incident. The developer advises that users should not rely solely on the app and should always check local radio and official fire agency websites during emergencies. ### Do I need an account to use the app? Yes, the app currently requires users to create an account to access fire data. Many users have expressed frustration with this requirement, noting that it creates unnecessary friction when they need to access information quickly during an emergency. ### How does the app track fire activity? The app uses data from participating fire agencies in Australia to provide incident information and map visualizations. It applies standardized warning categories, including Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning, to help users understand the status of active fires. ## 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:** 53 - **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/fires-near-me-australia) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.