Stay Alert

The Alert SA mobile application is an initiative of the Government of South Australia that provides timely public information and warnings about fire, flood, severe weather, heatwave, and hazardous materials across the state. It is the only government-endorsed public information and warning application for South Australia.

The Alert SA app can be downloaded from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play Store (Android). The app is free to download and does not require a login or sign-up. Alert SA supports the following operating systems:

• Apple: iOS 16 and above.
• Android: Android 13 and above.

Alert SA supports the following operating systems:

• Apple: iOS 16 and above.
• Android: Android 13 and above.

If you have an older device or a device other than iOS or Android, you can still access information by visiting the following websites:

• SA Country Fire Service (SACFS)
• SA Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS)
• SA State Emergency Service (SASES)

Alert SA displays incidents and warnings for the following hazards: Fire (urban and bushfire), flood, severe weather (storm and tree down), hazardous materials and heatwave warnings. The app provides information about fire ban districts, total fire bans, emergency services, commonly used ABC radio frequencies, and other ways to stay informed during an emergency

To receive push notifications, users must have a Watch Zone set up in the app. The notifications a user receives are based on their Watch Zones. Users can turn off notifications for incidents issued within their Watch Zones. Users cannot turn off warning messages within their Watch Zones. To adjust your notification preferences, refer to the FAQ “How do I edit or delete a Watch Zone?”

A Watch Zone is a selected area/s within South Australia that allows a user to receive push notifications about incidents and warnings specific to that area. You can add, edit, and personalise up to 10 Watch Zones, each with a maximum 50km radius anywhere in South Australia. You must have a Watch Zone created in the app to receive push notifications about incidents and warnings.

Option 1 - Navigation Bar

1. Using the bottom navigation bar, tap on the 'Watch Zone' button
2. Tap the ‘Watch Zone’ button and select your Watch Zone preferences
3. Click on ‘Add Watch Zone’ button

Option 2 - Map Pin

1. Using map view, find your desired location and long press on the map
2. Tap the ‘Watch Zone’ button
3. Give your Watch Zone a name and select your preferences
4. Click on the blue ‘Save’ button

Option 3 - Search Bar

1. Using the search bar located above the map, enter your desired location then select your preferred result
2. Tap the ‘Watch Zone’ button and select your Watch Zone preferences
3. Click on the blue ‘Save’ button

Option 1 - Navigation Bar

1. Using the bottom navigation bar, tap on the 'Watch Zone' button
2. Select the Watch Zone you want to edit by tapping on it
3. Edit the Watch Zone as required
4. Click the blue ‘Save’ button

Option 2 - Map View

1. Using the map view, tap on the binoculars of the Watch Zone you want to edit
2. Click on the preview that appears at the bottom of the map
3. Edit the Watch Zone as required
4. Click the blue ‘Save’ button

Users can personalise which incidents they receive notifications for when creating a Watch Zone by using the toggle buttons within each Watch Zone. Each Watch Zone can be personalised to ensure the user remains informed based on preference

1. Create a Watch Zone - See FAQ 'How do I create a Watch Zone?'
2. Using the toggle buttons, select which incidents you want to receive notifications for in your Watch Zone.
3. Blue buttons are ‘on’, grey buttons are ‘off’.

You can adjust your notification preferences by editing your Watch Zone at any time.

As a reminder, you cannot turn off notifications for warning messages; these remain always on.

You may not receive notifications for the following reasons:

1. You do not have Watch Zones set up in the app.
   Try: Creating a Watch Zone (See FAQ 'How do I create a Watch Zone?')
2. The incident or warning is outside your Watch Zone boundary.
   Try: Expanding the radius of your Watch Zone, or adding another Watch Zone
3. Push notifications are not enabled on your device.
   Try: Adjusting your device settings to allow push notifications

A warning provides point-in-time information about a hazard that is impacting or is expected to impact communities. It describes the impact and expected consequences for communities and includes advice on what people should do

An incident can be defined as “an event, accidentally or deliberately caused, which requires a response from one or more of the emergency response agencies”. If you cannot access the Alert SA app, incidents and warnings can be viewed by visiting the following websites: SA Metropolitan Fire Service Public Information and Warnings, SA Country Fire Service Incidents and Warnings Page or State Emergency Service Incidents and Warnings Page

The Australian Warning System (AWS) is a national approach to information and calls to action for hazards, including those displayed in the Alert SA app. This system uses a nationally consistent set of icons and colours. The example below demonstrates the symbology used for fire incidents.

Advice (Yellow): An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.
Watch and Act (Orange): There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.
Emergency Warning (Red): An Emergency Warning is the highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

The symbology in the triangle and associated calls to action will change depending on the hazard, however, the colour of the triangle does not change.

Users can view the Fire Danger Ratings for each Fire Ban District in the app by tapping on the ‘Fire Danger Rating’ tab on the bottom navigation bar. If there is a Total Fire Ban in your Watch Zone, Alert SA will send a push notification on the evening before, and the morning of the Total Fire Ban

Fire Danger Ratings describe the potential level of danger should a bushfire start and are calculated using a combination of weather forecasting and information about vegetation that could fuel a fire. For more information about Fire Danger Ratings visit the SA Country Fire Service Incidents and Warnings Page. The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) uses four easy to recognise rating levels, each with a message to encourage you to take action to protect yourself and others when at risk of bushfire. The rating is an indicator of how dangerous the bushfire could be if it occurs, not a predictor of how likely a bushfire is to start. For more information about the AFDRS visit: https://afdrs.com.au/ . If there is a Total Fire Ban in your Watch Zone, Alert SA will send a push notification the evening before and the morning of the Total Fire Ban.

The Alert SA app displays cross-border notifications for fire warnings within 100km of each border around South Australia. Your Watch Zone must extend across the border to receive cross-border notifications.

The Alert SA app displays cross-border fire warnings within 100km of each border around South Australia. Your Watch Zone must extend across the border to receive cross-border notifications

In response to severe weather or flooding events, the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) may decide to establish sandbag locations where individuals can obtain free sand and/or hessian bags to prepare properties.

If your device is compatible with the new v3 of Alert SA, you can update it through your device's App Store. If your device is incompatible, you can continue using the version installed on your app.