# Alert SA — user reviews > 136 indexed App Store user reviews of Alert SA by Government of South Australia – South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission, rated 4.90/5 from 12 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alert-sa/id1487904728/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alert-sa/id1487904728.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 11 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 0 ## What do users think of Alert SA? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🗺️ Customizable watch zones for personalized alerts - 📍 Real-time incident mapping and location visibility - 🔔 Reliable notifications for critical emergencies - 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation - 💾 Comprehensive incident information and details - 🌙 Dark mode support - 📱 Works seamlessly on multiple devices - 🚨 Essential safety tool for fire-prone areas - ⚡ Quick access to fire danger ratings - 🎯 Ability to monitor multiple locations simultaneously **Cons** - 🔊 Notification sound is intrusive and cannot be customized - 📢 Alert fatigue from excessive non-critical notifications - 🐛 Notifications fail to arrive despite enabled settings - ❌ Frozen app after recent updates (iOS) - 📍 Insufficient location details in notifications (missing suburb/street address) - ⚠️ Minimum 5km watch zone too large for metro areas - 🔄 Completed incidents remain on map causing clutter - 🌍 Shows alerts for entire state instead of just watch zones - 📱 Landscape mode not supported on tablets - ⏱️ Delayed notifications arriving after incidents are resolved - 🎯 Poor alert filtering and prioritization system - 🔧 Inconsistent performance across iOS versions **Commonly reported bugs** - App freezes on welcome screen after update (version 3.3.0+) - Fire hazard rating button causes app crash - Notifications not received despite enabled settings and watch zones configured - Push notifications fail after iPhone OS updates - App stuck in portrait mode on iPad in landscape orientation - Notifications arrive days late or not at all - Incidents outside watch zones still trigger alerts - No push notification buttons visible on some iPhone models - App becomes unresponsive during high-incident periods - Inconsistent notification delivery across devices **Most requested features** - Customizable notification sounds with multiple options - Ability to filter alert types (fires only vs. all incidents) - Watch zones smaller than 5km for suburban areas - Wind direction and speed information for fire events - Dynamic watch zones that adjust based on fire danger levels - Landscape mode support for iPad/tablets - Route-based alert zones instead of radius-only - Evacuation point locations with facility details (pet-friendly, horse-friendly) - Different zone sizes for different hazard types - North indicator on map - Road closure information integrated into app - Burned area visualization (black zones for completed fires) - Toggle to hide completed incidents - Ability to sort incidents by most recent first - Optional heatwave and non-critical alerts - Street address in tree-down notifications ## Newest reviews (15 of 136) ### 2/5 — Fire incidents *2026-06-21* Would it be possible to classify building fires differently from bushfires. We need to know about the threat from bushfires but building fires (unless you live next door) are usually a wasted notification. I know several people who have cancelled your app because they are frustrated by the regular building fire notifications. I plan to do the same. Shame because other features of the app are great. ### 4/5 — Well done! *2026-06-11* Really great app. Lets us know about fires, trees down and severe weather etc. We have two watch zones set up and they have been really helpful if we’ve been away. Can get family to check house etc. Would like to have a bit of severe weather info like hail in affected areas after my granddaughter arrived home to find her house damaged severely by sudden huge hailstones in her watch area. A warning would’ve prepared the family a bit. Thanks for a great app. ### 2/5 — Jim *2026-05-31, version 3.4.1* It is beyond belief that either through technical limitations or legislative constraints that neither CFS nor SES cannot immediately identify the actual street in which an incident, tree down. Reducing the value of the information. Jim ### 4/5 — Rubbish Tone *2026-05-05, version 3.4.0* The new tone is so annoying, it overrides the notification sound set on the phone. It would be good to remove this. I find the app already good enough as it is, but I really don’t like the new sound. ### 3/5 — New Sound is Terrible! *2026-03-19, version 3.4.0* Change the sound!!!!!! It sounds like a dating app not an emergency app! Completely stupid sound… ### 2/5 — Horrible new notification sound since the update *2026-02-17, version 3.4.0* Just that really. Why did you change it? ### 4/5 — New notification tone *2026-02-16, version 3.4.0* The new notification tone is terrible. I don’t want to turn off sounds but… ### 4/5 — I don’t like there new distinct sound, can I change it, PLEASE?! *2026-02-15* The latest version have changed the sound of the notifications and I hate it! So much so that i am going to have to make my phone silent or turn off notifications and that defeats the purpose of this app. Please make it so the user can decide. PLEASE! ### 4/5 — Hheaps good *2026-02-14, version 3.4.0* With dark mode it’d be a 5 star app easy. ### 4/5 — New alert notification tone *2026-02-13, version 3.4.0* Go back to the original notification tone, it worked just fine ### 3/5 — Unnecessary alarm *2026-01-29, version 3.3.2* Mostly helpful, but causing an alarm to go off just to let us know that it’s hot, is unnecessary and counterproductive. Save the alarm for genuine immediate danger then people might pay attention to it. ### 3/5 — Unnecessary alerts *2026-01-28, version 3.3.2* I have set a30km zone around my property. Why am I getting alerts for area hundreds of ls away? It’s very annoying. ### 2/5 — Not receiving notifications *2026-01-27, version 3.3.2* I am not getting any notifications for my watch zones since my latest OS update! ### 2/5 — Needs better alert filtering *2026-01-26* I set my location and restricted fire only and severe weather alerts to within 50km radius for work travel, yet still received unnecessary alerts for fires often out within minutes or structure fires outside my relevant area. This quickly led to alert fatigue. The app needs stronger filtering so Emergency Warning & watch and act alerts are clearly prioritised, similar to BOM severe weather notifications. Lower priority updates should be optional. At present the signal-to-noise ratio is too low for my needs, so I’ve returned to monitoring the CFS website of high risk days and the BOM app. ### 4/5 — Good app, but *2026-01-25* I live near the hills. I want to hear about dangerous bushfires within say 10Km. But there is only one choice in the app, fires or no fires. So i get warned about every bin fire, car or house fire, someone lighting s cigarette etc. How about two options? One for generally easily contained very local fires which are no danger to me, and one for genuinely risky fires? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — The app is a shadow of its former self *2026-04-09, version 3.4.0* There was an update some time ago. Before the update a typical list would show 40 to 50 incidents around the State. Since the update there may be a maximum of 10, often only 2 or 3. How is this possible? ### 1/5 — … *2026-03-29, version 3.4.0* Doesn’t seem to cover much ### 1/5 — Trees *2026-02-28, version 3.4.0* Do we honestly need to be woken up by trees falling down in the middle of the night I don’t think so perhaps have more delicate alarm for inconsiderate trees??? I. Putting everything on silent at night now so if we get burnt out it’s your fault. ### 1/5 — Tone *2026-02-23, version 3.4.0* Would love to change the alert tone ,the rest is great ### 1/5 — Garbage app *2026-02-19, version 3.4.0* I was hoping with the latest update once m notified of an incident within my watchzone, it would tell me WHERE the incident is, not just the suburb name. Pointless when you have to open another breasted app or go online to find where the incident is. ### 1/5 — Alert tone annoying. *2026-02-15, version 3.4.0* The changes in the main from the last update are ok. However the default alert tone, which you CAN’T CHANGE is awful. Make it so you can actually change it! ### 1/5 — Inadequate and confusing *2026-02-03, version 3.3.2* There are so many weaknesses in this app it is difficult to know where to begin. A more reliable warning of approaching fire is the sound of CFS/MFS sirens and fire fighting aircraft. ### 1/5 — What’s the point of this app? *2026-01-08, version 3.3.2* I’ve got notifications allowed. I’ve got a watch zone set up. I’ve selected the alerts I want to be shown. Currently have 3 incidents in my zone (all ‘notifiable’) and I’ve had zero alerts. ### 1/5 — Address?? *2025-12-29, version 3.3.2* Frustrating when there’s no street address - how do I avoid a tree down or accident if I don’t know where it is??? ### 1/5 — Where are the alerts? *2025-10-17, version 3.3.1* Downloaded the app. Set my watch area. Notifications are enabled. Today there are 5 fire incidents in my “zone” and not one notification. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Good *2026-05-10, version 3.4.0* Stuff ### 5/5 — Informative *2026-05-09, version 3.4.0* It’s good to know what is happening ### 5/5 — Happy customer *2026-03-26, version 3.4.0* Very pleased with prompt alert. Very reassuring. Thanks ### 5/5 — Alert system *2026-03-01, version 3.4.0* It’s very amazing ### 5/5 — Brilliant app *2026-02-08, version 3.3.2* Great app best of its type available ### 5/5 — Essential app for all South Australians *2026-02-02, version 3.3.2* Alerts are relevant and helpful. Great tool to keep everyone safe. ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-01-29* Great app I have never had any issues and have always had -relevant to my area- information that send updates and alerts for both of our selected areas. ### 5/5 — AlertSA *2026-01-25, version 3.3.2* Reassuring to see and read real-time info in case vital info missed on ABC 891 Adelaide radio. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Stevoske *2026-01-23, version 3.3.2* It’s very important to inform people of bush fire danger . Thank you ### 5/5 — My best friend during summer *2025-12-27, version 3.3.2* I live in the Adelaide Hills and rely on this APP so much. It’s a fabulous asset for Hills dwellers in particular and is very useful for travel. Unbeknownst to me I once became surrounded by bushfire on the A20. This APP helped me plot an escape route away from the fires. Brilliant. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*