--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Fire Danger (NSW)" developer_entity: "James Darbyshire" bundle_id: "darb.io.firedanger.ios.nsw" app_store_id: "1659357314" category: "Weather" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2026-08-11" report_date: "2026-08-16" last_verified: "2026-08-16T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "1.4.0" total_reviews: 0 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.2 data_age_days: 90 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 3 tags: ["weather", "freemium", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "residents,", "travelers,", "farmers,"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/fire-danger-nsw" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Fire Danger (NSW) Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Weather · Freemium > **TL;DR:** Fire Danger (NSW) is a weather app by James Darbyshire, available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Fire Danger (NSW) is a weather app by James Darbyshire. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Category** | Weather | | **Developer** | James Darbyshire | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Low (0.2/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 90d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** James Darbyshire - **Category:** Weather - **Target Audience:** Residents, travelers, farmers, and emergency services volunteers in New South Wales requiring localized fire safety information. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 1.4.0 - **Report Date:** 2026-08-16 - **Signal Count:** 0 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.2/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1659357314 - **Bundle ID:** darb.io.firedanger.ios.nsw - **Performance Trend:** Stable - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-08-16 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Fire Danger (NSW) is a weather-safety utility for New South Wales residents and travelers that provides fire danger ratings and total fire ban alerts on iOS. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the friction of manually checking official government websites by pushing critical fire-risk changes directly to the user's home screen. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Fire Danger Ratings:** Displays current fire danger levels for every NSW Fire Weather Forecast Area. - **[Differentiator] Push Notifications:** Sends twice-daily updates and alerts for specific fire danger changes or total fire bans. * *User Intent:* Users are motivated by consistent progression and daily incentives. - **[Standard] Saved Forecast Areas:** Allows users to bookmark specific regions for quick access from the home screen. ## Market Position {#market-position} Fire Danger (NSW) occupies a specialized utility niche in the New South Wales weather market. The app's reliance on public data sources necessitates a focus on alert reliability to maintain its Pro-tier value proposition. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free tier with ad-supported access to basic forecasts, Pro tier with push notifications, custom alerts, and ad-free experience - **Analysis:** The freemium model gates proactive alerting and personalization features behind a Pro upgrade to drive recurring revenue from high-intent users. ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Localized fire-risk alerts create high utility for safety-conscious users - Pro-tier gating of alerts captures high-intent recurring revenue **Growth Levers:** - Cross-state fire data expansion for regional travelers ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app has shifted its strategic focus from general UI improvements to a more aggressive prioritization of alert reliability and potential geographic expansion. This pivot reinforces the Pro-tier subscription as the primary driver of value. **Overall trend**: Stable **Compared at**: 2026-08-16 ### High-impact changes - **[Added] Cross-state expansion opportunity** (swot) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Shifted] SWOT focus on Pro-tier value** (swot) - **[Shifted] Alert-centric narrative** (positioning) ## What's New - **Latest (v1.4.0, 5 days ago):** Introduced push notifications for fire danger level updates in subscribed areas. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Shipped push notification functionality in latest release. - Maintains steady maintenance-mode update cadence. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 1 majors in last 6 months · 5 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Fire Danger (NSW) is a weather app that is free with in-app purchases. > **Bottom Line:** Fire Danger (NSW) maintains a clear utility for fire-risk awareness, but its reliance on public data makes it vulnerable to official government feature expansion. The PM should focus on refining the alert-delivery mechanism to ensure the Pro tier remains the most reliable source for safety information. **Best for:** Residents, travelers, farmers, and emergency services volunteers in New South Wales requiring localized fire safety information. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [MAINTAIN] Audit alert delivery latency because push notifications are the primary Pro-tier value driver → maintain high subscriber retention ### Outlook: Stable The market for localized fire-safety utilities in New South Wales remains stable, with demand driven by seasonal bushfire risks. Fire Danger (NSW) is well-positioned to serve this audience as long as its alert-delivery mechanism remains faster and more accessible than official government alternatives. - 🟢 The latest release introduced push notifications, which directly addresses the primary user need for proactive safety alerts during changing fire conditions. - ⚪ The app remains in a maintenance-mode cadence, which is sufficient for a utility that relies on stable, external government data sources. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Total Reviews | 0 | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Stable | | Outlook | Stable | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Fire Danger (NSW)** (this app) | N/A/5 | N/A | James Darbyshire | | [Bauernkalender](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ch-swift-bauernkalender) | N/A/5 | N/A | Swift Management AG | | [Forecast & What to Wear](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-appsforparents-weatherforkids) | 4.2/5 | N/A | Natalia Jakubczyk-Gajewska | | [Weather&Clothes](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-air-weather_and_clothes) | 2.7/5 | N/A | fk.system | | [처음날씨 - 잠금화면 및 알람으로 오늘의 날씨를!](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-woozuda-weather) | 4.2/5 | N/A | WOOZUDA | | [미세미세 - 미세먼지, 초미세먼지, 날씨](https://marlvel.ai/apps/cheehoon-ha-particulateforecaster-particulateforecaster) | 4.8/5 | Excited | LifeOverflow Inc. | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** James Darbyshire - **Website:** [https://darb.io](https://darb.io) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store ID:** 1659357314 - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://darb.io) - **Sources:** Developer website content, App store metadata. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Bauernkalender*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ch-swift-bauernkalender) (Swift Management AG) · N/A Rating - [*Forecast & What to Wear*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-appsforparents-weatherforkids) (Natalia Jakubczyk-Gajewska) · 4.2/5 Rating - [*Weather&Clothes*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-air-weather_and_clothes) (fk.system) · 2.7/5 Rating - [*처음날씨 - 잠금화면 및 알람으로 오늘의 날씨를!*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-woozuda-weather) (WOOZUDA) · 4.2/5 Rating - [*미세미세 - 미세먼지, 초미세먼지, 날씨*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/cheehoon-ha-particulateforecaster-particulateforecaster) (LifeOverflow Inc.) · 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*너의날씨: 미세먼지, 지도, 레이더, 캐릭터, 위젯*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/kr-guzi-yourweather) (구지랩(GuziLab)) · 5.0/5 Rating - [*ชายฝั่ง รู้ทันระดับน้ำ*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/hii-pttep-chaifang-mobile) (Hydro Informatics Institute) · 4.9/5 Rating - [*ภัยพิบัติไทย*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/biz-harmoniz-earthquake_alert_thai) (Harmoniz InterSoftware) · N/A Rating - [*13abc First Alert Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-gray-wtvg-13abc-weather) (Gray Television Group, Inc.) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*13WarnMe*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/13warnme) (Local TV LLC) · 3.0/5 Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Fire Danger (NSW) affiliated with the official NSW Rural Fire Service? No, the app is an independent third-party tool that uses publicly available information published by the NSW Rural Fire Service. ### What features are included in the Pro tier? The Pro tier includes twice-daily push notifications, custom alerts for fire danger and total fire ban changes, saved forecast areas, and an ad-free experience. ### Is this app suitable for emergency services volunteers? Yes, the app is designed for residents, travelers, and emergency services volunteers who need quick access to localized fire danger ratings and weather forecasts. ## 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:** 0.2/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 0 - **Data Sources:** developer website, 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:** 90 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/fire-danger-nsw) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.