Google Australia has launched a map that displays the location of current bush fires, whether a fire is under control, who is responding to the crisis and other information.
The Google Crisis Map is constantly updated and can be accessed from any device.
Residents of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania can access the map. Google said it is working with authorities to make the map also available for residents in Victoria, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
“We’re able to provide this Crisis Map and the Public Alerts thanks to the NSW Rural Fire Service, the Queensland Rural Fire, the ACT Emergency Services Agency, The Country Fire Service of South Australia, and the Tasmania Fire Service,” an entry on Google Australia's official blog states.
“The partnership and commitment of these agencies in opening this data to the public helps Google and others make critical and life-saving information more widely available.”
Google also announced its Public Alerts map, which shows relevant fire information when looking up related terms on Google Maps or Google Search, is now available for NSW.
Google Now users for Android and iOS can be alerted of extreme nearby bushfires published by NSW Rural Fire Service.
“We also look forward to expanding Google Public Alerts and working with more local warning providers soon. We encourage potential partners to read our FAQ and to consider putting data in an open format, such as the Common Alerting Protocol.”