Comparison

Active Wildfire Tracker Map vs FWAS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Active Wildfire Tracker Map

This app provides an interactive map of current active wildfires across the US. Data is updated hourly and includes GPS functionality for location tracking.

Highlights
  • Interactive wildfire map
  • Current US wildfire tracking
  • Hourly data updates
  • GPS capabilities
Features
Read full description

Active Wildfire Tracker Map is an interactive mapping application that tracks the current active wildfires in the US. The data is updated hourly and offer GPS capabilities.

About

FWAS

This app provides critical weather information and custom alerts for firefighters to anticipate dangerous fire behavior. It offers map-based access to fire-specific weather data, including RAWS, NWS forecasts, and radar, helping to prevent entrapments.

Highlights
  • Custom weather alerts
  • RAWS/ASOS station data
  • Fire-specific weather forecasts
  • Satellite hotspot mapping
  • Incident location and fire perimeters
  • NWS watches, warnings, and advisories
  • NEXRAD radar data
Features
Read full description

Many firefighters have been entrapped due to rapid changes in weather causing unexpected fire behavior. These weather events are often predictable using local weather measurements and forecasts, but on-the-ground firefighters have historically lacked access to this information. The Fire Weather Alert System provides this access. It monitors nearby weather observations and forecasts to warn firefighters of dangerous incoming weather and provides convenient map-based access to fire-specific weather information (RAWS, NWS zone fire weather forecasts, NEXRAD radar data, etc.). GET CUSTOM WEATHER ALERTS • Get custom weather alerts when wind speed, wind gust, relative humidity, air temperature, and precipitation exceed your set thresholds. • RAWS/ASOS stations and short-term forecasts (HRRR model) are monitored. • Designate the watch area for your fire. • Alerts broadcast using in-app messages, text, and/or email. VIEW RAWS DATA • Select weather stations from a map and view data in graph and tabular form. • Access RAWS, iRAWS, ASOS, and other station networks. VIEW SATELLITE HOTSPOTS • Display VIIRS and MODIS hotspots on the map. VIEW INCIDENT LOCATIONS AND FIRE PERIMETERS • View incident name, type, size, and most recent perimeter (including smaller IA fires). VIEW NWS WATCHES, WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES • See National Weather Service Active Alerts on the map and read the text. • Monitor Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Wind Advisories, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, etc. ACCESS ZONE FIRE WEATHER FORECASTS • Access and read your local fire weather forecast. • See fire weather zone names and boundaries on the map. MONITOR APPROACHING STORMS WITH NEXRAD RADAR • Display animated radar data on the map.

Screenshots

Active Wildfire Tracker Map2 screens
FWAS2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FWAS at 3.1 against Active Wildfire Tracker Map's 2.3. FWAS also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (25% vs 0%). Active Wildfire Tracker Map's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FWAS holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Active Wildfire Tracker Map's written reviews are positive against 25% of FWAS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Active Wildfire Tracker Map ships an update fortnightly, FWAS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Active Wildfire Tracker Map versus FWAS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterActive Wildfire Tracker MapFWAS
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (13 ratings)3.1 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews25.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better7
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB200 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developercorey hoggardUSDA Forest Service

Customer experience

Active Wildfire Tracker Map

All ratings13 ratings
Positive23.1%
Neutral7.7%
Negative69.2%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative80.0%

FWAS

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Active Wildfire Tracker Map

No in-app purchases

None

FWAS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Active Wildfire Tracker Map free?
Active Wildfire Tracker Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FWAS free?
FWAS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Active Wildfire Tracker Map or FWAS?
FWAS is rated higher. Active Wildfire Tracker Map averages 2.3 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while FWAS averages 3.1 from 7 ratings.
Do Active Wildfire Tracker Map or FWAS have ads?
Active Wildfire Tracker Map shows ads; FWAS does not.
Which is updated more often, Active Wildfire Tracker Map or FWAS?
Active Wildfire Tracker Map ships an update fortnightly, and FWAS every 4 months. Most recently, Active Wildfire Tracker Map was updated on September 21, 2026 and FWAS on June 1, 2026.

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