A new icon has been brought in for the Hazards Near Me app, partly due to feedback from the NSW RFS. Photo: NSW Rural Fire Service Facebook.
Due to feedback from the community and within the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), a new icon has been adopted for the state’s bushfire and hazards warning app on mobile phones.
The change was brought in for the Hazards Near Me app on Wednesday (20 November).
The RFS said a new incident status, Responding, had been adopted and would be the default status for new incidents.
“A Responding status has been adopted to ensure more accurate information is provided to the public through the RFS website and Hazards Near Me app,” the RFS said.
“The status will also result in a reduction in the number of unnecessary push notifications that Hazards Near Me users receive.
“Once the Responding status is implemented, users can opt to receive a push notification once the incident has been confirmed by crews in attendance.”
The Responding icon is a black diamond with a white flame.
In the app’s legend the icon is accompanied by text saying, “An incident has been reported in this location, firefighters are currently responding”.
The Responding icon is a black diamond with a white flame. Photo: NSW RFS.
The new icon is separate to the warning levels – the yellow Advice, orange Watch & Act and red Emergency Warning all remain on the app.
Hazards Near Me has already been downloaded by more than four million NSW residents.
A NSW RFS spokesperson encouraged people to download the app onto their mobile phones and to set up a watch zone around their area, as they would then receive notifications about incidents in their location.
The spokesperson said the app had options to filter what they were notified about.
They also encouraged people to set up watch zones for the places they travelled to over the upcoming summer holidays, whether that be a camping region or visiting the homes of family.
To download Hazards Near Me, click here.
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