DFES Fire Map Guide: Access WA’s Official Real-Time Data

When a bushfire threatens your neighbourhood, the difference between calm and panic often comes down to one thing: knowing exactly what’s happening. Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) maintains an official, real-time fire map through Emergency WA — the single authoritative source for warnings, incidents, and fire bans across the state, and this guide shows you how to use it, understand the alerts, and stay informed whether you’re in Perth or the Pilbara.

Official source Emergency WA (emergency.wa.gov.au) ·
Update frequency Real‑time (typically within 5 minutes) ·
Coverage Entire Western Australia ·
Features Incident locations, warnings, total fire bans, district boundaries

Six key facts, one pattern: the DFES fire map is built around a single integrated platform — Emergency WA — that layers warnings, incidents, bans, and boundaries into one view.

What is the DFES WA alerts map?

The DFES WA alerts map is the visual interface of Emergency WA — the official warning system operated by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. It displays all active incidents, warnings, and total fire bans across Western Australia.

How DFES alerts map differs from other maps

• Data comes directly from emergency responders, not third‑party aggregators (Google Play)
• The map includes official alert levels (Advice, Watch and Act, Emergency Warning) assigned by DFES
• It integrates total fire bans and fire danger ratings alongside incidents (DFES Warning Systems)
• Unlike MyFireWatch, which uses satellite data and is community‑focused, Emergency WA is the government’s authoritative source for warnings

“Emergency WA is the quickest and easiest way to find emergency information in Western Australia.”

— DFES Warning Systems page

The implication: for official warnings, DFES’s own map should be your first stop. Third-party maps may have delays or miss critical updates.

Where can I find current fires in WA today on a map?

There are two primary methods: the Emergency WA website and the dedicated mobile app.

Using Emergency WA website

• Open your browser and go to emergency.wa.gov.au
• The map loads automatically, showing all current incidents as coloured icons
• Use the “Filter” panel to select incident type (e.g., bushfire, bushfire advice) and alert level
• Click an incident icon for details: location, advice, and a link to the full warning

Using the Emergency WA app

• Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play
• Open the app – it displays the same map as the website, optimised for touch
• Set up “Watch Zones” to receive push notifications for your saved locations (DFES Warning Systems)
• Enable location permissions so the app can show you nearby incidents

The catch: the website works on any device with a browser, but the app adds push alerts — crucial for staying safe when you’re not constantly watching the screen.

How to view DFES current fires near Perth today on a map?

Drilling down to Perth‑area incidents is straightforward.

Filtering by location

• On the Emergency WA map, use the search bar (top‑right) to type “Perth” or a specific suburb like “Armadale”
• The map will zoom to that area and show all current incidents
• You can also use the “Filter” menu to select only bushfire incidents near you

Using the map zoom and search

• Zoom in/out with scroll or pinch gesture until you see the metropolitan area
• Click the “+ / −” buttons or use two‑finger zoom on mobile
• Current fires appear as red/orange/yellow markers depending on alert level (DFES Warning Systems)
• For even faster access, create a watch zone named “Perth home” so the app notifies you immediately when a warning is issued nearby

The pattern: Emergency WA gives you two ways to narrow down — spatial zoom and text search — so you can focus on exactly the area that matters, from Northam to Mandurah.

What is the Emergency WA Fire map?

The Emergency WA Fire map is the public face of DFES’s hazard‑information system. It aggregates data from multiple DFES feeds and presents it in a single interactive interface.

Features of Emergency WA map

• Real-time incident markers with colour‑coded alert levels (Advice = blue, Watch and Act = yellow, Emergency Warning = red)
• Total fire ban zones shaded on the map (DFES Warning Systems)
• District boundaries overlaid so you know which local government area is affected
• Prescribed burns shown as separate markers to avoid confusion with active fires
• Click on any incident to see the full official warning text and safety advice

How it differs from DFES direct site

• The DFES website (dfes.wa.gov.au) provides policy, safety tips, and organisational information
• Emergency WA is the operational hazard‑map interface — no fluff, just the live data
• Both are run by DFES, but Emergency WA is the correct destination for current warnings (DFES Warning Systems)

“Emergency WA is Western Australia’s trusted, official source for fast and accurate information during emergencies.”

— Apple App Store description

The trade‑off: the Emergency WA map is deliberately simple — it doesn’t show satellite imagery or historical data, but that simplicity means it loads fast even on 4G in remote areas.

How to see Perth fires today live on a map?

“Live” means the map auto‑refreshes every few minutes, and you can set up alerts so you never miss a change.

Live map features

• The Emergency WA website and app both use automatic refresh — no manual reload needed
• When DFES issues a new warning or upgrades an existing one, the map updates within minutes (DFES Warning Systems)
• You can also follow DFES on social media for additional updates

Setting up alerts for Perth fires

1. Download the Emergency WA app on your phone
2. Open the app and tap “Watch Zones”
3. Add your home address and your children’s school as separate zones
4. Enable push notifications in your phone’s settings
5. When a bushfire warning is issued within any of your watch zones, you’ll receive a push alert (DFES Warning Systems)

The implication: live map + app alerts = a safety net that works even when you’re not looking at the screen.

Step-by-step: How to use the DFES fire map effectively

Follow these steps to get the most out of the Emergency WA system.

1. Bookmark the website and download the app. On your desktop, save emergency.wa.gov.au as a bookmark. On your phone, download the free Emergency WA app from your app store.
2. Set up watch zones for every place you care about. In the app, add your home, workplace, and children’s school — up to 10 zones. These zones trigger personalised push alerts.
3. Learn the colour codes. Blue = Advice (stay informed). Yellow = Watch and Act (prepare to act). Red = Emergency Warning (danger is imminent, act now). Green = All Clear.
4. Filter by incident type. Use the filter button to show only bushfires, prescribed burns, or floods. This reduces clutter during major events.
5. Check total fire bans daily during summer. The map shows where you cannot light a fire — violations can lead to heavy fines (DFES Warning Systems).

Timeline: Key dates for the DFES fire map

• 1 November 2012 – Department of Fire and Emergency Services established, consolidating fire management under one agency (DFES)
• 3 March 2026 – Emergency WA removed from the ServiceWA app. Users redirected to the standalone Emergency WA app or website (WA Government)
• Current – Emergency WA app available on iOS and Android, with watch zones and push alerts

What we know — and what remains uncertain

For a detailed walkthrough of accessing real-time warnings and setting watch zones, refer to this DFES fire map guide.

Frequently asked questions