About the project
BushfireSmoke Australia is an independent public-interest project operated by environmental engineer Scott Ambridge, CPEng, P.Eng., a dual Australian and Canadian citizen.
The project was created to make Australian air-quality observations, atmospheric model forecasts and official fire information easier to find and compare. It brings together data from government monitoring networks and independently produced research models.
BushfireSmoke Australia does not operate air-quality monitoring stations or produce an official government forecast.
About the operator
Scott Ambridge is an environmental engineer with experience in air pollution and the use of environmental data to support decision-making.
Over the past decade, bushfires in Australia and wildfires across North America have become increasingly significant public-health and air-quality concerns. The project began with a simple question:
Could Australia have a clearer national view of current air quality and potential smoke conditions?
Funding and commercial status
BushfireSmoke Australia is currently funded solely by its operator.
The service is free and non-commercial. It does not carry advertising, sell personal information or resell source data. Any future funding, sponsorship or other relationship that could reasonably influence the service will be disclosed here.
Current and past funders or in-kind contributors: None at present.
Independence and governance
BushfireSmoke Australia is not operated, endorsed or approved by the Australian Government, the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, any state or territory government, or any emergency service unless an explicit partnership is stated here.
The operator is responsible for the project's technical and editorial decisions. Data sources and models are selected according to the published methodology and source policy, including source authority, reliability, licensing, update frequency and technical suitability.
Government observations and individual model forecasts remain separately identified. Model values are not presented as measurements or blended together to create an official forecast.
Material changes to data sources, model handling, health-related wording or project governance are recorded in the project repository and version history. Technical or scientific advice from external contributors does not give those contributors editorial control unless expressly disclosed.
Potential conflicts of interest will be declared here. As of 10 August 2026, no material conflicts of interest have been identified.
Accountability and corrections
Questions, corrections, partnership enquiries and concerns about data use can be sent to contact@bushfiresmoke.au.
BushfireSmoke Australia is an informational service. It is not an emergency-warning system or health service, and it is not a substitute for information or advice from government agencies, health professionals or emergency services.