The best wildfire apps will keep you informed of potential dangers and give you as much time as possible to prepare. If you live in a fire-prone area or in a state with frequent wildfires, like California, Colorado, or Oregon, it’s worth getting the best fire watch app you can find. Wildfires can change in size and direction quickly, so the best fire tracking app will help you stay up-to-date and will provide the local details you need to make smart decisions.
Below, we review your options so that you can make the right choice as to the best wildfire app for your needs. If you’re looking for one of the best free (and ad-free) apps, download the Frontline Wildfire Defense App today.
How to choose the best fire watch app for you
The best fire map app does more than tell you where the wildfire is. It works like a wildfire assistant, helping you with practical features when you need them the most. These include:
- Live updates. The best forest fire app is one that gives you up-to-date information on a fire’s location, perimeter, and spread.
- Alerts and notifications. You want to be able to customize the app based on your location or area of interest, so that it alerts you when there is a fire in your area.
- User friendliness. An app that is easy to use is a necessity in a situation that could become high-stress and chaotic.
- Ad-free. The last thing you want to deal with when facing a wildfire is the distraction of ads.
- Interactive live mapping. The ability to zoom in and out and toggle between layers of information is vital when it comes to having the right data in front of you.
- Weather details. Storms, dry conditions, heat, and wind create environments ideal for starting a wildfire that can quickly grow to threaten your home.
- Evacuation information. You need to get evacuation notices the minute they’re issued. Checklists on what to do before you leave can help you be sure you haven’t forgotten anything and provide advice that can potentially minimize your losses. Evacuation routes, safety zones, and road closure information can be life-saving.
- Coordination and contact groups. Know where your family is. Track and connect with friends. Keep your loved ones in the loop.
- Multi-platform functionality. Make sure that you can access information on iOS, Android, and any web-connected devices.
6 best apps for tracking wildfires in 2024
Wildfires can happen any time of the year in some areas, so you need to be on alert at all times. When you have the best forest fire app on your phone, you can let technology do the work.
Instead of being constantly on edge, use one of the apps listed below to keep you informed and ready to act. We chose these six apps from among the best wildfire tracking apps currently available because they each pull data from reputable sources, provide accurate wildfire maps and wildfire alerts, include up-to-date weather information, and offer other resources to help you stay safe during wildfire season.
1. FRONTLINE WILDFIRE TRACKER
Top Features:
- Configurable fire alert notifications, including new fires, red flag warnings, fire weather watches, lightning, evacuations, and more.
- Interactive wildfire map and information.
- Ad-free and easy to use.
- A fire situational awareness dashboard with key alerts, fire weather, and air quality information.
- Evacuation preparation checklists to help you remember what’s important and to make sure you leave your home in the best situation for surviving the fire.
- Emergency contact groups to keep your family and friends coordinated, informed, and safe.
- Monitoring and remote control of the Frontline Wildfire Home Defense System.
Frontline Wildfire Tracker is one of the best wildfire tracking apps for iOS and Android because it offers all of the features you need in one easy-to-use place. The interactive wildfire map and configurable emergency alerts give you real-time information you need to make decisions and put your evacuation plans into action.
One of the most vital features of the Frontline Wildfire Tracker app is the step-by-step checklists that help you prepare for evacuation. Using them, you can make sure you haven’t overlooked important details. How you secure your home before leaving can reduce the risk of damage or loss. You can also use the app to remotely control your Frontline Wildfire Home Defense System.
Frontline Wildfire Tracker is free to use and has no ads, making it the distraction-free wildfire tracking app of choice if you live in a fire-prone area.
2. DISASTER ALERT
Top Features:
- Free for iOS and Android devices.
- Covers 18 types of natural hazards.
- Customizable to a specific area and hazard severity.
- Provides in-depth information about a hazard in one click.
- Uses high-quality data from official sources.
Disaster Alert is a free app for iOS and Android that lets users monitor wildfires and other disasters. The app is built on PDC’s DisasterAWARE®️ platform to provide real-time updates about 18 different types of natural hazards, including wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and winter storms.
Users can set up customized alerts based on their geographic area of interest and hazard severity. After receiving a hazard alert, you can click on it to view more information, including when it was reported, when it was last updated, and to get an in-depth description of the event. The app also shows users how many people and homes may be exposed to the disaster.
Users can also view a global map to find hazards reported around the world and access visually modeled hazard data.
3. FIREGUARD WILDFIRE TRACKER
Top Features:
- Free for iOS and Android devices.
- Near real-time fire location tracking.
- Uses satellite-based hotspot sensors.
- Includes air quality notifications.
- For use in the USA and Canada.
The Fireguard Wildfire Tracker app offers fire alerts and near real-time tracking of fire locations to help users monitor wildfire activity near them. The app pulls data from the NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System, which includes fires detected with satellite infrared imaging technology.
With the Fireguard Wildfire Tracker app, users can see hotspots, USA and Canada wildfire incident reports, wildfire burned area boundaries, NOAA smoke areas, Cal Fire incident details, fire cameras, fire weather risk areas, and crowdsourced fire report markers.
The app is free to use and does not require an account. You simply open the app and tap “Fires near me” to get an instant look at wildfire incidents in your area.
4. WATCH DUTY
Top Features:
- Free for iOS and Android devices.
- Real-time maps and alerts.
- Includes air quality notifications and wind information.
- Provides details about evacuation orders and shelters.
- Allows for photo sharing of fire conditions.
- Covers the Western US.
Described as a service, not an app, Watch Duty is powered by volunteers who monitor fire information sources and upload findings for sharing.
Despite being called a service, you do download it as an app. It offers a fire map that uses satellite data for tracking the size and progress of fires. It includes fire alerts with information about smoke and wind, along with updated evacuation and shelter information.
As a volunteer-led service, the app is notable for the ability of first responders and people affected by fires to share photos, local observations, and details on it.
5. FIRES
Top Features:
- Free for iOS and Android devices.
- Fire maps of active incidents.
- Interactive hotspot browser.
- Ability to download maps from several sources.
- Weather conditions including wind and air quality in select areas.
- Paid option with upgraded features.
This app provides fire perimeter maps and hi-res photos from InciWeb, Cal Fire, NIFC, and the US Forest Service. The same sources power alerts that you can customize by location. You can also access global active fire information from the MODIS and VIIRS data sets.
Because many areas have spotty cell coverage, you can download maps from 3D Basemaps, the BLM, and USFS across many areas of California. While the downloadable atlas won’t give you real-time information, it can help you navigate a tricky situation.
You need to select paid options to be free from ads and get global coverage.
6. FIRE SPOT
Top Features:
- Free for iOS and Android devices.
- Worldwide coverage.
- Maps track perimeter and fire status.
- Red flag warnings and prescribed burn notifications.
- Includes wind and air quality information.
- Tiered access to data with free and paid subscriptions.
The free version of the app is highly map-focused, with information about fire perimeters and status, enhanced satellite detection, and satellite data on vegetation, moisture, and other climatological factors.
To access customizable alerts and notifications, including evacuation orders, you will need to upgrade to the paid tier.
Which is the best wildfire tracker app?
Selecting the best fire watch app is largely a matter of your particular needs. That said, the best fire map apps are free, yet fully featured and customizable. Having real-time information about fires with detail about evacuation orders is vital. In the high-stress environment of a fire threatening your home, having practical tips and how-to information can help you deal with the situation with a degree of calmness and thoroughness. You don’t need the distraction of ads and in-app offers during these moments.
With those factors as your yardstick, the Frontline Wildfire Defense app stands out. The array of tools for alerting you to fires, keeping you up-to-date, and helping you deal with everything an evacuation entails—from securing your home to coordinating with friends and family—is unmatched. You can also use the app to control your home wildfire defense system.
Here’s a Frontline Wildfire Defense app recap:
- Remote wildfire defense system controls
- US and California wildfire maps
- Weather conditions information
- Fire danger indexes
- Event notifications
- Wildfire preparation checklists
- Emergency contact groups
For more information on how you can safeguard your home and protect your family from wildland fires, contact our team at Frontline Wildfire Defense. Or, get the free app below.
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