Los Angeles residents discover a free tool to track wildfires.

Watch Duty, a nonprofit-managed app that tracks wildfires through live maps and alerts, has reached the top spots on the Apple App Store this week as California residents seek tools to tackle the devastating fires in Los Angeles. This service, which launched in 2021, is available in 22 states and provides evacuation warnings, real-time textual, photographic, and video updates, and a map interface with flame icons to indicate areas affected by fire. Users have access to information on evacuation routes, shelter locations, and firefighting efforts, as well as the ability to zoom in on the map for the latest details on precise locations. It serves as a comprehensive resource for everything needed in a wildfire emergency.

Watch Duty is supported by a team of approximately 200 volunteers, many of whom are retired or active firefighters, dispatchers, or first responders. The app obtains its wildfire information from official government reports, volunteer reporters, and 911 calls, which are verified and monitored using radio scanners, wildlife cameras, satellites, and local announcements from emergency services and firefighting agencies. They claim this community-backed network allows them to provide more up-to-date information than fire-tracking services like CalFire and InciWeb, which rely on government alerts. The app is used by active firefighters and has become an essential tool for people living in high-risk fire zones in the western United States. Watch Duty reports that the number of active users increased to 7.2 million in December 2024, compared to 1.9 million in 2023.

On social media, Californians are recommending each other download the app due to the fires that continue to scorch thousands of acres, driven by strong winds and extremely dry conditions. As of Thursday morning, the fires were reported to have caused five fatalities and destroyed over 2,000 buildings, including the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Adam Brody, and James Woods. Additionally, over 367,000 homes in California are currently without power, and at least 130,000 residents of Los Angeles are under evacuation orders.

Nick Russell, Watch Duty's Vice President of Operations, mentions that users are drawn to the app because of its accessibility, avoiding the need to consult multiple sources and updates on social media, as well as its network that verifies information. In a context where conspiracy theories about natural disasters and climate change proliferate online, and misinformation related to weather events spreads, Russell emphasizes the app's focus on information quality. "One of our big themes is quality over quantity," Russell said. "If it takes a few extra minutes to provide accurate information, that's fine. We want the information to be official."

Additionally, Russell highlighted that Watch Duty does not collect or sell user data, and is sustained through premium subscriptions and private donations. The essential features of the app for monitoring fires, safety, and evacuation are fully available for free. "It's crucial in today's world, where many people seek to profit from disasters, to understand that Watch Duty is not that," Russell concluded. "Watch Duty will remain free forever."