Who Made Watch Duty? All about the wildfire monitoring app amid the Pallisades fire

As wildfires continue to wreak havoc on communities in the western United States, innovative solutions such as Watch Duty have emerged. Introduced in 2021, this wildfire monitoring app has been a lifesaver for people in fire-prone areas such as The Pallisades Fire.

The history of Watch Duty goes back to John Mills, a technology entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. The inspiration for this innovation reportedly came from a personal experience during the Wallbridge fire in 2020, when emergency information seemed chaotic.

Mills told NPR in September 2024:

“You know, it’s only a matter of time before it comes back to me.”

Mills realized a critical need for a space to receive real-time updates on wildfires, prompting him to complete Watch Duty within 80 days. Recalling the time, Mills said:

“Hey, I live in the woods, I’m going to die, this is going to launch tomorrow. So we built Watch Duty in 80 days and got it live and had 50,000 users in a week.”

Starting as a three-county Northern California utility, Watch Duty has now expanded throughout the western United States, stretching as far east as Texas and Oklahoma. This non-profit service is supported by donations and subscriptions to enhanced features that ensure the app respects users’ privacy and does not collect personal information.

In 2024, Watch Duty reported a significant increase in its user base and engagement metrics. The app’s annual active users increased from 1.9 million to 7.2 million – an increase of 3.7 times.

Active mobile devices also increased from 1.3 million to 2.8 million, and page views increased fourfold from 115 million to 512 million. It also appeared at its peak time of use. For example, during the Southern California wildfires in September 2024, more than 1.1 million people used the app every day.

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How does Watch Duty work?

Watch Duty uses technology and community engagement to present real-time wildfire information. The app gathers data from official sources, such as GIS data from CalFire and satellite imagery, and relies on a volunteer contributor team of many firefighters and emergency personnel.

The volunteers watch live feeds from wildland cameras and listen to radio communications from firefighters to provide timely updates.

The features of Watch Duty include:

• Real-time alerts for nearby wildfires and firefighting.
• Firefighting aircraft flight paths can be monitored.
• Localizable user reports so people can share information about fire conditions.
• Comprehensive evacuation notices and shelter information for affected individuals.

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Volunteering in Watch Duty

Volunteer fire reporter Shannon Mahorney of Watch Duty said it’s important to integrate technology with community engagement. Speaking to Axway, Mahorney stated:

“Watch Duty is the intersection of technology like APIs and people dedicated to helping their communities stay safe. It’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Karen Hancock of Sonoma County commented that Watch Duty has become an indispensable tool for both the public and firefighters. Speaking to NPR, Hancock said:

“It’s been a great tool for not only our public, but our firefighters and crews as well.”

She added:

“Having another resource that reaches so many in the community – it’s lifesaving.”

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How is Watch Duty used in Pallisades brand?

The Watch Duty app has been used to track and manage the ongoing Palisades Fire, which broke out on January 7, 2025.

Watch Duty was notified in real time of the Palisades fire, which spread within hours of ignition due to strong 40-mph winds.

The app provides an interactive map showing the location and perimeter of the fire. This will give users an idea of ​​the direction the fire is taking and what areas are involved. It also guides users on how to navigate safely through danger zones.

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What happened at the Palisades?

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades and moved rapidly throughout the area, displacing thousands of residents.

The first report of the fire was around 10:30 a.m. PT, and in a matter of hours it spread from 20 acres to over 2,921 acres due to the onslaught of strong Santa Ana winds, which peaked at up to 50 mph.

More than 30,000 residents received evacuation orders, and many evacuated their homes with flames closing in. The panic evacuation caused major traffic jams on all major escape routes and many people had to abandon their vehicles and run on foot.

At least six homes were destroyed, but many more are threatened, according to earlier reports.