As wildfires wreak havoc across Southern California, one service is diligently working to keep residents informed and secure.

Watch Duty offers an app and web interface that provides real-time notifications about nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts. Californians affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, among others, can access a list of local shelters, find out the status of evacuations, and receive consistent updates.

According to John Mills, CEO and co-founder of Watch Duty, he understands the plight faced by tens of thousands of Californians because he has been in similar situations.

In 2020, when he had to evacuate from his home in Sonoma County due to the Walbridge Fire, he was desperate for updates on the situation.

“It was overwhelming and traumatizing. I spent all day refreshing my browser, trying to find information. I discovered that much of it was being shared on the radio and through first responder channels,” Mills explained during a Wednesday interview with YSL News. “There were dedicated individuals listening to first responders and relaying that information on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. That was how I managed to stay informed during the fires.”

Inspired by this experience, Mills began to develop his “crazy idea,” collaborating with a friend to establish a startup in the wildland firefighting sector.

“I started riding along in fire trucks, engaging in wildland fire training, and getting to know first responders to learn how I could best help,” Mills said. “After about six months, I realized the solution was what ultimately became Watch Duty.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Watch Duty and how to get it.

Monitor wildfires in the Los Angeles region

What exactly is Watch Duty?

Watch Duty is a non-profit that focuses on “providing real-time public safety information from verifiable sources” about wildfires affecting 14 states, including Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, and California, as noted on the Watch Duty website.

All information shared on Watch Duty originates from active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders, who continuously monitor radio communications to provide timely and critical updates.

Watch Duty was developed within 80 days and launched in August 2021, following devastating wildfires in northern California, particularly in Sonoma County.

How does Watch Duty function?

When wildfire-related information is communicated by firefighting personnel, Watch Duty follows a six-step process.

First, an automated monitoring system captures details about incidents reported to emergency dispatch, notifying Watch Duty teams through a messaging app. Then, local Watch Duty reporters start monitoring radio broadcasts, wildfire cameras, satellites, and other public information sources.

Next, Watch Duty reporters confirm the information and await official reports from on-the-ground teams. They will alert the public to any threats to life or property via the app and continue to track the incident, providing updates until it is fully contained or deemed safe.

A detailed video demonstrating how Watch Duty operates can be found below.

How can I access Watch Duty?

The app is free to download from the App Store, Google Play, or can be accessed through a web browser. Since its launch, Watch Duty has been downloaded over 2.8 million times.

In-app features include:

• Live Wildfire Map & Alerts
• Monitoring Wildfires and Controlled Burns
• Flight Tracking
• Air Quality & Wind Direction
• Centralized Information such as red flag warnings and power outages
• Tracking Active Fire Boundaries
• Evacuation Notices & Shelters
• Photo Submissions