Common Questions
Is FireWatch AU an official warning service?
No. FireWatch AU is unofficial and not affiliated with any agency. Information may be delayed or incomplete. Always follow the directions of your emergency services, and in an emergency call Triple Zero (000).
How does the app use AI?
The app uses Apple Intelligence, which runs entirely on your device. All AI processing happens locally on your iPhone or iPad, so your data never leaves your device.
Is my data private?
Yes. The app doesn't collect any personal data. Everything stays on your device. No accounts, no tracking, no data sharing.
Is my data private?
Yes. FireWatch AU has no accounts, analytics, ads or tracking. Your location and saved places stay on your device. The app asks our server for public information such as warnings, fire danger and weather, and sends it nothing about you. The privacy policy has the details.
Does it need internet?
No. The app works completely offline since all processing happens on your device.
Does it need internet?
Yes. FireWatch AU needs an internet connection for current warnings and data. Offline, it shows the last information it downloaded, marked with how old it is.
Where does the information come from?
From every state and territory's fire and emergency agencies, the Bureau of Meteorology and other public sources. Each is credited in the app under Help & About, and each layer's page names its publishers.
How do I connect App Store Connect?
In App Store Connect, go to Users and Access → Integrations → App Store Connect API → Team Keys (Individual keys can't read sales reports) and create a key with Sales access, or Admin to include reviews. Download the .p8 file, AirDrop it to your iPhone and choose Storeboard, then follow the steps for the key ID, issuer ID and vendor number.
How do I connect Google Play?
Create a Google Cloud service account and download its JSON key. In Play Console → Users and permissions, invite its email with View app information and download bulk reports and View financial data (access can take up to a day). AirDrop the key to your iPhone, choose Storeboard, and paste the Cloud Storage URI from Download reports.
"Apple didn't recognise this key"
The issuer ID, key ID and .p8 file don't belong together. Each developer account has its own issuer ID, shown at the top of Users and Access → Integrations.
Why are yesterday's numbers missing, or different from the store?
Apple publishes each day's report around 8am US Pacific time the next day, and Google within a day or two. Money is converted at each day's exchange rate and Google Play proceeds are estimated from its sales report, so use the stores' official reports for tax and accounting.
Is my data private?
Yes. Storeboard has no accounts, server, analytics or tracking. Your store keys stay in your iPhone's keychain and are only sent to Apple and Google, to fetch your own reports, which are stored on your iPhone. The privacy policy has the details.
Found a bug?
Please email support@benrichardson.dev with a description of what happened. If you can include your device model, iOS version, and steps to reproduce it, that helps a lot.
Have a feature idea?
I'd love to hear it. Send it to support@benrichardson.dev. I can't promise to build everything, but I do read all suggestions.
How do I delete my data?
Just uninstall the app. Since everything is stored locally on your device, deleting the app removes all data.
Which devices work?
The app runs on iPhone and iPad. Check the App Store listing for specific requirements.