--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Wildfire Info" developer_entity: "David Gross" bundle_id: "usa.wildfires" app_store_id: "1035221813" category: "Weather" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Freemium" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2025-01-24" report_date: "2026-08-16" last_verified: "2026-08-16T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "4.8.2" total_reviews: 31 overall_rating: 3.4 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 35 confidence: "medium" confidence_score: 0.6 top_praise_theme: "Centralized access to fire maps and social media feeds provides a convenient information hub" top_complaint_theme: "Stale or missing wildfire data makes the app unreliable for emergency situational awareness" review_sample_size: 33 total_review_count: 33 analyzed_review_count: 33 data_age_days: 47 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 3 tags: ["weather", "freemium", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "emergency", "responders,", "managers,"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/wildfire-info" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Wildfire Info Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Weather · Freemium - **Signal**: Rating 3.42 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Stale or missing wildfire data makes the app unreliable for emergency situational awareness (top complaint) · Centralized access to fire maps and social media feeds provides a convenient information hub (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Wildfire Info is a weather app by David Gross, rated 3.42/5 by 31 users, with Frustrated user sentiment (35/100), available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Wildfire Info faces Frustrated user sentiment (3.42/5 from 31 reviews), with users reporting stale or missing wildfire data makes the app unreliable for emergency situational awareness as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 3.42/5 (31 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Weather | | **Developer** | David Gross | | **Pricing** | Freemium | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | Medium (0.6/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 47d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** David Gross - **Category:** Weather - **Target Audience:** Emergency responders, land managers, and residents in fire-prone regions requiring real-time incident monitoring. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 4.8.2 - **Report Date:** 2026-08-16 - **Signal Count:** 33 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Medium (0.6/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 1035221813 - **Bundle ID:** usa.wildfires - **Performance Trend:** Stable - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-08-16 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Wildfire Info is a weather-category app that aggregates wildfire perimeter data and satellite imagery for residents and emergency responders on iOS. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the friction of checking multiple government portals by centralizing fire perimeters, satellite hotspots, and weather forecasts in one map-based view. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Multi-Source Fire Tracking:** Aggregates perimeter data from NIFC WFIGS, NASA MODIS/VIIRS, InciWeb, and CAL FIRE. * *User Intent:* Users want visibility into their own performance and progress. - **[Differentiator] Satellite Imagery Access:** Provides 250m resolution true color images from NASA GIBS dating back to 2007. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Differentiator] Navigation Integration:** Generates driving routes to fire perimeters using Apple Maps or Google Maps via Universal Links. ## Market Position {#market-position} Wildfire Info holds a 3.4-star rating across 31 reviews, reflecting user frustration with data currency and app stability. The lack of updates for over 19 months places the app at a disadvantage against official agency tools that provide real-time incident updates. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Freemium - **Tiers:** Free tier with access to standard fire maps and weather data, Premium tier with historical satellite imagery and navigation integration - **Analysis:** The freemium model gates advanced geospatial tools behind a subscription, though the value proposition is currently undermined by data latency. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (Medium Confidence: 33 of 33 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 3.42/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 3.4/5 (31 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated ### Top Praises - **Centralized access to fire maps and social media feeds provides a convenient information hub** - **Direct data sourcing from official agencies provides reliable information for wildfire monitoring and planning** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Stale or missing wildfire data makes the app unreliable for emergency situational awareness** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Centralized aggregation of official fire perimeter data **Growth Levers:** - Implementing location-based push alerts for fire threats ## Recent Changes (v2 → v3) {#recent-changes} The app remains in a 19-month maintenance-mode state with no functional changes. The primary shift is a more precise competitive assessment that frames official government agency apps as the direct cause of user churn. **Overall trend**: Stable **Compared at**: 2026-08-16 ### High-impact changes - **[Shifted] Competitive threat identification** (positioning) ### Medium-impact changes - **[Shifted] Threat landscape refinement** (swot) - **[Shifted] Roadmap prioritization** (features) ## What's New - **Latest (v4.8.2, 1 years ago):** Migrated in-app subscription handling to Apple StoreKit2. ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - No major updates in 19 months. - Last release focused on subscription handling. > **Cadence:** 1 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 568 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Wildfire Info is a weather app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 3.42/5 rating from 31 reviews, it faces significant user friction. > **Bottom Line:** Wildfire Info's reliance on stale data and its 19-month maintenance gap render it unreliable for emergency use. A pivot toward real-time push alerts would address the primary user frustration, but only if the underlying stability issues are resolved first. **Best for:** Emergency responders, land managers, and residents in fire-prone regions requiring real-time incident monitoring. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] Audit data-sync logic because stale incident reports are the top complaint → restore emergency utility ### Outlook: Declining Users report: The wildfire tracking market is consolidating around official agency apps that provide real-time, verified data. Wildfire Info's lack of development leaves it exposed to churn as users migrate to more reliable, frequently updated alternatives. - 🔴 The 19-month development silence signals that the app is in maintenance mode, which compounds the risk of total failure during peak fire seasons. - 🔴 Persistent reports of launch crashes and stale data suggest the current architecture is failing to handle modern API updates from official sources. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 3.42/5 | | Total Reviews | 31 | | Sentiment | Frustrated (35/100) | | Confidence | Medium | | Pricing Model | Freemium | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Stable | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Wildfire Info** (this app) | 3.42/5 | Frustrated | David Gross | | [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:** David Gross - **Website:** [https://davidgrossapps.com](https://davidgrossapps.com) - **Social:** [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/davidgrossapps) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wildfire-info/id1035221813?uo=4) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://davidgrossapps.com) - **Sources:** Developer website content, App store metadata, User reviews. ## 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 Wildfire Info reliable for emergency wildfire tracking? Users report that the app often displays stale or outdated fire perimeter data, making it unreliable for real-time emergency situational awareness. ### Does Wildfire Info provide push notifications for nearby fires? No, the app currently lacks push notification functionality, which is a top-requested feature among users who want to stay informed about local fire threats. ### What is the difference between the free and premium versions? The free tier provides access to standard fire maps and weather data, while the premium tier gates historical satellite imagery and navigation integration behind a subscription. ### Are there free alternatives to Wildfire Info? Users often look to official government sources like InciWeb and CAL FIRE, which provide real-time, verified incident maps and reports directly from the agencies managing the 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:** 0.6/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 33 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, 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:** 47 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/wildfire-info) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.