On this page you will find information about the Alert SA Mobile App. This website also provides key public safety and emergency information sources from a wide range of emergency and essential service agencies, government and community partners.
When staying informed of hazards, never rely on one source of information, as sometimes technology can fail during an emergency. Awareness of other information channels is important to help you stay informed during emergency events.
Introducing the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFRDS)
From 1 September 2022, Australia's Fire Danger Rating System will be improved and simplified, to make it easier for you to make decisions to stay safe on days of fire danger risk.
The move to a simpler system is backed by improvements in science, which will mean we can better predict areas of greater risk on days of fire danger.
Across the country there will be nationally consistent colours and terminology. This means that wherever you go in Australia, and whatever the season or fuels you’re surrounded by, you can understand the level of threat and what you need to do to stay safe.
Know your daily Fire Danger Rating
| Fire Danger Rating | What does it mean? | What should you do? |
|---|---|---|
| MODERATE | Most fires can be controlled | Plan and prepare |
| HIGH | Fires can be dangerous | Be ready to act |
| EXTREME | Fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous | Take action now to protect your life and property |
| CATASTROPHIC | If a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost | For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas |
For more information, visit the CFS website.
Bushfire season
Other channels to use during the bushfire season include:
Winter season
Other channels to use during the winter season include:
For all other emergency events, such as disease outbreaks and SAPOL incidents, please refer to the relevant agency websites and social media accounts as well as listening to your local radio.
The Alert SA Mobile App is an initiative of the South Australian Government and has been designed to provide timely and relevant bushfire information to communities across the state.
Providing information on incidents and warnings that are sourced directly from the SA Country Fire Service (SACFS) and the SA Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS), the Alert SA App displays a map and list view – with the list prioritised by closest distance to your device’s location, and allows users to create up to 10 watch zones to receive notifications for areas of interest.
You can create up to 10 Watch Zones in South Australia.
There are three simple ways to create a Watch Zone:
The pop-up message Alert SA only provides notifications for incidents in SA is for information only. Select either Don't show again or OK and continue to create your Watch Zone.
TIP: You can adjust the size of your Watch Zone's radius between 5km and 50km when you create it. This means you will receive notifications for incidents within your Watch Zone's circle. Remember – if the Watch Zone is large, you are likely to receive more notifications. Although a smaller Watch Zone may mean you receive less notifications,and may not be notified about Incidents that are moving quickly.
To successfully create and save a Watch Zone, you are required to enter a Name.
Select Add to Watch List.
Once you've set a Watch Zone, you may receive notifications such as:
Ensure that push notifications are enabled in your phone's settings.
To choose how your phone displays Alert SA notifications, select Settings in your phone, followed by Notifications, and then tap the Alert SA icon. Here, you will be able to choose how Alert SA notifications will appear on your phone.
Once your Watch Zones are created, and push notification settings are enabled, you will receive notifications for Total Fire Bans, new incidents, Bushfire Advice, Bushfire Watch and Act and Bushfire Emergency Warnings in those Watch Zones.
The Alert SA App projects a sound upon the receipt of a notification. The type of sound is dependent on your phone's Settings and Sounds. Check your device's / Apps sound settings, in addition to your notification settings so that your App is setup correctly and notifying you of bushfire activity.
This can be done through your notification settings to enable notifications to appear on a locked screen, in your notification centre or as a banner. To receive a notification with sound, please check your phones Settings and under Notifications ensure the Alert SA app is set to Allow Notifications with Sounds On. Check your device's volume is loud enough for you to hear your notifications.
Keep in mind that you must create a Watch Zone(s) in order to receive any notifications relevant to that area. You can have 10 watch zones up to 50km in size. If you need assistance in checking your settings, please email Alert SA and provide information on what Apple or Android device you are using.
Sound notifications are determined by your individual device. To learn more about customising notification sounds on your device, please contact your service provider directly.
If you receive notifications without sound, please check your phone's Settings - and under Notifications ensure the Alert SA app is set to Allow Notifications with Sounds On. Check your device's volume is loud enough for you to hear your notifications. The type of sound will be dependent on what has been selected through your phone's Settings and Sounds.
Creating a Watch Zone(s) allows you to receive notifications for the chosen areas such as:
If you did not receive a notification, it may be that the incident or warning message is outside of your Watch Zone's boundary. You may wish to adjust the size of your watch zone, or create an additional watch zone, to capture an area experiencing bushfire activity and receive the associated notifications.
Ensure push notifications are enabled in your phone's settings. To choose how your phone displays Alert SA notifications, select Settings in your phone, followed by Notifications, and then tap the Alert SA icon. Here, you will be able to choose how your notifications will appear on your phone.
If you turn off your notifications for Alert SA, you will not receive any notifications, including important Warning notifications. If you still wish to turn off your Alert SA notifications, select Settings in your phone, followed by Notifications, and then tap the Alert SA icon. You can toggle your notifications for this App on and off.
If you are receiving too many notifications, you may wish to consider reducing your number of Watch Zones or the size of your Watch Zones radius. Remember – if you have a large Watch Zone, you are likely to receive more notifications. Having a smaller Watch Zone may mean you receive less notifications, however, you may not be notified about Incidents that are moving quickly.
South Australia implemented the new national warning symbology in coordination with other Emergency Services agencies and jurisdictions, including Victoria, the ACT and New South Wales. For more information about these warnings, visit the CFS website.
The below table provides an overview of each icon and their meaning within an emergency context:
 |
Emergency Warning An Emergency Warning is the highest level of bushfire warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk. |
 |
Watch and Act There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. |
 |
Advice A fire may pose a threat to property or public safety. Check and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan and decide what you will do if the situation changes. Look and listen for information on the TV, radio, internet, social media, mobile phones and by speaking with neighbours. |
 |
Incident A fire has started. Continue to stay up to date in case the situation changes. |
 |
Incident Update Additional information related to an incident beyond that contained in a structured advice or warning message. An example might be in a protracted fire event where recovery centre of evacuation centre information is required. |
If there is a Total Fire Ban in your Watch Zone, Alert SA will send you a notification on the evening prior to and morning of the Total Fire Ban.
During the Fire Danger Season (generally from November through to April) you can find the Fire Danger Rating for the State's 15 Fire Ban Districts by selecting Fire Danger Ratings from the Alert SA App menu.
The Alert SA App shows the last time information was refreshed at the bottom of the screen. Each Warning and Incident also has a timestamp showing the last time the information was updated. Incidents at Emergency Warning level are updated frequently. Watch and Act messages are updated several times throughout the day, or as the situation changes.
Some Incidents, such as those with Advice messages, or fires which have been burning for some time but not causing any threat, may be updated less frequently. Alert SA provides users information as frequently as possible, based on the information being provided by the Agency attending the Incident(s).
The Alert SA App focuses on bushfire events and does not provide information regarding road closures. To access data on roadworks, incidents and planned events in South Australia please visit the Traffic SA website.
The Alert SA App is available for iPhone and Samsung devices.
Please note, while users are able to download Alert SA onto Android AOS 4.X (and lower) devices, the App is unsupported and will not function correctly, displaying a 'No Network connection' error.
If you have an older device, or a device other an iOS or Android, you can still access bushfire information through the A Country Fire Service (CFS) and SA Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) websites and set them as bookmarks or icons on your device.
The Alert SA App is available for iPhone and Samsung devices.
If you continue to have issues with the Alert SA App, please email Alert SA.
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) is the primary provider of bushfire firefighting services across the state.
Bushfire Hotline: 1800 362 361
The SA State Emergency Service (SES) is the primary provider of flood rescue services across the state.
SES assistance: 132 500
The SA State Emergency Service (SES) coordinates the state's response to extreme weather events.
SES assistance: 132 500
SA Health is the primary agency in South Australia responsible for responding to severe infectious disease outbreaks, such as a flu pandemic or food poisoning.
Health Direct: 1800 022 222
Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) manages the risks posed by animal and plant pests and diseases in South Australia.
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) is the primary provider of structural firefighting services to the State of South Australia.
The South Australia Police are the Control Agency for Terrorism in South Australia.
Police Assistance: 131 444
Services essential to the community can be impacted at any time. These include:
Services essential to the community can be impacted at any time. These include:
For all further hazard information please visit:
www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety
