VicEmergency

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I live on the VIC side of the VIC/ NSW border. So to keep informed we have to monitor two apps (NSW Fires Near Me and the Vic Emergency app). The screen layout and functions on the NSW version is far simpler to follow and when you select an incident far more informative. Vic app is trying to do too much on front screen so much so that overlays make reading harder like the warning area overlays. And when you click an event the info is very limited or useless in comparison to the NSW app. If you provide an option at least for users to turn layers on and off this might make the front incident alert clearer by allowing us to turn off overlays. The most important info is where is the fire, how big is it, what has already burned, where is it headed (influence of current and coming weather), predicted spread, level of warning. Much of this could be explained or shown on the map when ticked on/off by users. That way keeping the simplified view clean. A National app would be more useful with a common layout and information. This would be better for travellers moving across states and for the many communities that live in state border regions, and for those that want to monitor impact to interstate relatives or friends. Otherwise we have to use multiple apps with different layouts and symbols - crazy in this day given the seriousness and frequency of bushfires? Fires don’t have borders!

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This app is far to complicated and difficult to use. Information is hard to find. The State government has wasted lots of taxpayer money combining all services into one app, making it difficult to navigate and causing frustration. The original DSE and CFA FireReady apps were easy to use and shouldn’t have been scrapped. The Vic Emergency app is useless when trying to get information. I’m sure most people give up trying to use it. Bring back the original separate apps for each service before people are injured or have their homes destroyed. This app is complicated “overkill”. The person or panel who dreamt up this mess should be moved to less important roles. Typical politicians and public servants squandering money and creating more work for their mates. GET RID OF IT!

Most reviewers I notice are probably having an issue with the settings related to their specific watch zone areas. By default not all specific incidents will prompt the app user with a notification. This system is based on 000 calls, so of course not every issue will be known until it’s first registered. To expect the App to know about a fire before even 000 knows is just ridiculous. In the event of an emergency always make sure you have a backup radio powered by batteries as cellular service can crash. Don’t blame the app for your ignorance.

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Despite having disabled everything except fire in my watch zone, I still get constant notifications about all sorts of things like thunderstorm warnings in Gippsland. That might be acceptable if I lived anywhere near Gippsland, but I don’t. This morning I got two notifications for all clear for thunderstorms, again not in my watch zone. I am ready to disable the app and check the website myself on high alert days. This app is useless because I end up ignoring notifications. UPDATE after response from developer. Thanks for reply but your explanation does not make the app any less annoying with constant, useless notifications. If I disable all notifications except fire, then I don’t expect to get other notifications that I can’t turn off.

I feel like this app does deliver valuable information. I am not sure why others tend to give few stars. You have to set up the location-based watch zones correctly, and make sure you enable only those notification types that are relevant (tree down 5 km away usually does not concern me). Once that is done, you get useful info on fire ban and fire danger levels. I have been using the app for a year, and have only been mildly affected by fire threats, but found the app quite useful.