Watch Duty: Wildfire & Floods Customer Service

Watch Duty: Wildfire & Floods Positive Reviews

Such a Valuable, Generous ResourceThis app has been indispensable to me during California’s January 2025 Wildfire Nightmare. Tapping on each fire icon (🔥) gives updates to the information about developments in the acreage of each fire; the percentage of containment; what the emergency response is; what areas are under evacuation orders to Go, and which areas are advised to prepare (Set). There are locations of shelters listed, and I can check on the neighborhoods of various friends so that (some of) my worry is a little more manageable — at least, I know whose areas are most affected. The fire icon is greyed out on fires that have been put out, which is also a relief to see. I’ve shared this app with friends and family, and I’ve just become a member. The free features are so comprehensive and good, and the membership adds a few more features (I haven’t really explored the expanded features yet — but I do see helicopter and air-tanker icons on the screen showing where fire retardant is being dropped, I think?). More importantly, membership supports the important work this app does. There is an option to make a one-time donation as well, but the expanded features that come with annual membership (two tiers available) and the ability to offer more consistent support to the work done by those who offer this app free of charge feels like a good commitment to make. This is an amazingly comprehensive app — run by skilled and dedicated volunteers — with no ads..CuriosityDrawsMeVersion: 2024.12.19

Excellent App to get as up to date info as possible.I heard about this app just recently during the Airport Fire and Line Fire. I have many friends with homes in both those areas. It was nice to be able to move from one fire to another so easily to get updates, see live video feed and have the transit/satalite/topography options as well as the satellite hot spots that really gives you a good idea of what is still active and what is not. I’m thankful for this app and I have shared it with my friends who were even more thankful to know their second homes in the Line Fire area were being protected as well as friends near Trabuco Canyon on both sides who were able to get an early idea of what directions the winds were blowing by the live video feed and whether there was a chance they would be in the evacuation zone long before they announced it. Everyone I know who were in the area are all safe as well as their homes. Thank you to all the hard working never stopping fire fighters and retardant/water droppers as well as everyone making the calls to protect homes in Orange County and San Bernardino County. My heart goes out to those who lost their homes more toward Riverside County and on the 74. I will never get rid of this app. So informative. I do wish the fire lines were updated a little more often if possible..MoBubsVersion: 2024.9.14

The Best Way To Track WildfiresThank goodness for this app! I live in Los Angeles and have been impacted by the wildfires, I use Watch Duty now more than I even use the Weather or the Maps app on my iPhone! This app is updated regularly and pretty accurate; I check three other air quality maps frequently and I’d say this one is the best for accurate and quicker updates to wind shifts and fluctuations in the AQI. I love the legend with clear labeling and color coding for AQI. Something to keep in mind with any of these maps, though — according to the EPA, the AQI number only shows particulate pollution from 5 major pollutants and doesn’t show the amount of harmful gases or vapors in the air, so keep that in mind with any air quality maps that as far as tracking wildfire spread and updates on containment, you can’t get better than this app. When it comes to tracking wildfires, Watch Duty more accurately reported initial wildfires early on (Hughes and Sepulveda specifically) before news stations on big networks or major newspapers did! ***Most importantly, in addition to L.A.’s citywide text alerts, Watch Duty told us when it was time to evacuate.*** Really grateful to the creators of this app — if you’re reading this, thank you so, so much. You have no idea how much you’ve helped our family..Reda in NELAVersion: 2025.1.29

Thank you, Watch Duty!!I live at the other end of the same small mountain range as Altadena, CA, which recently burned in the Eaton fire. As a foothills dweller I’ve had PulsePoint installed for about 10 years to help give us early warnings about vegetation fires. During the recent horrific Santa Ana wind event I learned about Watch Duty and was just blown away by how useful it was to keep track of the fires and wind direction. Being able to get a live view from the wildlife cameras was really helpful too; there was a small fire in the forest to the north of us that could potentially have impacted our neighborhood, but we could monitor it through Watch Duty (and the USFS were on top of it!). It’s always been a little risky to live in the Los Angeles foothills and mountains, but you could usually get by with brush clearance and our amazing firefighters. Things are different now; we may not have much time to evacuate at all, and need all of the advance warning and information we can get. It’s been a few weeks since the fires and I just remembered to come back and subscribe. My partner and I both agree that we already got an annual membership’s worth of value just from this last event! I’m so grateful to the Watch Duty team for their work! <3.CoelliVersion: 2025.1.29

Game changing and invaluable!Watch Duty is such a game changing and unbelievably phenomenal app it’s hard to believe there was a point in time we didn’t have it! We lost our home and everything we owned to the Slater Fire in 2020, receiving no warnings or evac notices whatsoever. With 15 mins to assess what to grab and getting the kids and pets out I’m sure anyone reading this can only imagine... The groundbreaking tech that Watch Duty provides, with such up-to-date and crucial information has allowed those who need to know NOW the ability to access multiple sources and real-time fire info in the very most crucial moments. This year I’ve been able to monitor numerous fires with infinitely greater ease and speed, allowing me to track the location and all current evac notices, warnings and pertinent info within mere seconds. If enabled you can opt to receive notifications - during a shopping trip my phone makes a little notification sound, popping up a summary of the info - allowing me to instantly see what Fire it’s regarding and the brief synopsis of the info just posted. Instead of having to monitor dozens of sources myself, Watch Duty does this for me - and I can breathe a little easier knowing that if there’s intel out there about a fire close by, my Watch Duty app will alert me ASAP and provide me what I need to assess the danger level for me and my family. While I will always monitor local authorities, fire departments and emergency services and their sites and intel, Watch Duty provides me an additional, indescribable security blanket that has literally changed my life and I will forever hold immense gratitude and respect for those behind such a service. Thank you Watch Duty! You are truly irreplaceable!.JessiahbellVersion: 2022.8.8

Watch Duty kept us informedDuring the Trout fire in the Gila forest, Watch Duty kept us informed. Most radio stations don’t come in well outside Silver City and we’d have to be sitting at the radio when the update was on. The Tv stations are all from Abq. The only way most of Silver City NM gets news is from Facebook. But the filtering used by FB made it difficult to get the needed information unless you knew the correct government, forest, county websites to follow. We received no cellular phone warnings although our area went from “Ready” to “Set” in the last days. The only way we knew what was happening was Watch Duty. As Announcements were made Watch Duty provided the valuable evacuation map links and links to fire updates. At the last government meeting they suggested the Incedent fire command website which is great but only after there is an incident created. For several days when the fire started we relied on Watch Duty as Gila forest service was in charge. The incident team stated Watch Duty was not a government website but in my opinion was better than any government agency at keeping us keeping us informed. Thank you!.Trout fire userVersion: 2025.6.11

Thank youI've been a long time resident in a very hazardous county for wildfire activity. We have been evacuated multiple times over the past decade, and it's always really tough to get updated information quickly. Usually we team up with family members and friends, with a few of us driving around scouting the fires that are too close for comfort to track movement visually. Used to rely on inciweb, but it was still slow and cumbersome. I was traveling for work this week out of the state when these fires popped up, with my wife and two children at home. This app allowed us plenty of time to start packing things when a new fire started burning right on the other side of the hill. The amount of critical information available is astonishing - it's like this app is connected to every FD, news outlet, police station, and weather station simultaneously and putting all of the data on a map that is so well laid out it should win a design award. Seriously, thank you to the developers for putting this together, and giving us all a little more comfort being able to access the information..Hooper521Version: 2024.12.19

Loving the appLoving the app gives me some peace of mind on getting fire information. I have found some of the fire agencies are slow on giving out information. Especially important information that the community should have to make a decision faster or prepare if there is a fire near so they can make the decision to prepare for evacuation even though it might be a long shot. To much information is never a bad thing to have. I am also one of those people that carries a scanner on me in my vehicle and in my home. Living with a disabled family member we need more time then the normal family to evacuate. Living in the middle of nowhere it takes time for the notification system to catch up if it is a big fire. This gives me the power to see what is happening without having to monitor 10 different websites and paying attention to the scanner. The only feature i would like to see is the option to change the notification tone at night i find the tone to quiet and i would like to change it to a more louder tone especially to wake me up form a dead sleep..2486rlVersion: 2023.8.20

Best active fire app out thereI’ve lived in LA for over 40 years and my family lives in a high-wind zone, and have had to evacuate multiple times through the years. Watch Duty has been a revelation during the 2025 LA /Palisades fires. i’ve been glued to it, check it first thing when i wake up (we’re still in an active fire) and it’s the only reason i’ve been able to get any sleep. the interface is easy to use, the data is accurate and the map layer customization is great. the trail cam views are a wonderful bonus. there is nothing even comparable out there - everyday people can easily use it. thank you for being on watch for us all, and helping to keep us safe and informed 🙏🏽🙏🏽. everyone in LA is using this app-from young to old. my 70 year old neighbor even downloaded it! i will be donating to support the Watch Duty non-profit-m. your app will only become more useful (unfortunately) as severe weather events globally increase. stay safe out there friends..GreasedLightingVersion: 2025.1.9

Staying informedI recently was introduced to the Watch Duty app that became indispensable during the LA fires, and now the border fire, and I must say it exceeds my expectations. The app provides real type updates, allowing you to stay informed about the spread of fires, evacuation zones, and air quality. One of the standout features is the live map that visually displays fire locations and their intensity, which was incredibly helpful for understand the situation at a glance. The notifications were timely, ensuring I receive critical information as an unfold. More over the app include safety tips, and resources for those affected, which I found very thoughtful and necessary. The user interface is intuitive, making it easy to navigate even under stress. Overall, this app not only kept me informed, but also made me feel more secure during a challenging time. I highly recommend it to anyone living in areas prone to wildfires or those who want to stay updated and informed on natural disasters..TRUFAMILIAVersion: 2025.1.9

Faster than most agencies, and an incredible piece of mindI live in a fire prone area. I live in the same county where an entire town burned down a few years ago so we’re all a little edgy when we see fire or smoke. Earlier this year I was evacuated and the fire season hadn’t even really gotten started. I live in the county of the Park fire which is the fourth largest in California history. I would get continual updates every time there was a change reassuring. It was a little scary when my phone beeped about every 10 minutes, but at the same time we had three other fires in my area so it was pretty busy. I strongly recommend that you pay the $25 to get updates. That’s two dollars a month for peace of mind. I do live in a Fire area so for my County I have every single update pushed to me. The two other counties that are adjacent to us that also tend to share their fires with us I get an update when there is a new fire. I also have my son’s County let me know when there is a new Fire since he’s also been burned out once. I can’t recommend it highly enough. And that’s before they start adding camera views. Before I learned about the ability see which aircraft have been deployed, and before I figured out how to find out what the hotspots were and and that I could see the wind direction. If you live in a fire area and you do not at least download the free copy, you have no excuse when you’re caught unaware..JanetdwVersion: 2024.8.12

Best App for WildfiresWatch Duty has just been a blessing. There have been two fires that have started very close to my house and getting the notifications so quickly allowed me to pack up all the essentials (and then some) to evacuate a lot sooner than if I waited for law-enforcement to come by and tell me we needed to evacuate. Knowing sooner, gives me the ability to pack for a longer stays because you never know how long you will be evacuated from your home, so it’s wonderful that I’m able to pack for longer times rather than pack in a rush and just grab the very very, very basic essentials like important papers & some clothes. This app also keeps you updated on evacuation statuses and it gives you updates on what’s going on with the fire and it also includes pictures which is an added benefit. It also tells you what types of fire engines/ other fire vehicles, how many crews, helicopters, and airplanes are dispatched. It keeps you updated on when they release helicopters, airplanes, fire engines/ other types of fire vehicles. Watch Duty could be a potential lifesaver for somebody who lives close to where a wildfire starts and they receive a notification immediately. Watch Duty is my go to app for wildfires because we live in a VERY high risk area for wildfires and it helps me keep my family safe. I am so happy I learned about it from someone in my town. Thank you Watch Duty. 😊.~*Tenaj*~Version: 2026.4.29

Watch Duty saves lives!Since watch Duty started we've had far better safety from fires. Before Watch Duty we were not getting information from local agencies on most fires, even the huge complex fires. It was hard to know where the fires were and what way they were moving. Our county expected us to rely on the sheriff's Facebook postings. Often the power was out and getting online was tough, so we really didn't know. Our county said they didn't have enough money to send us alerts. Often there were last minute urgent evacuation orders. It was harrowing. But then someone brilliant started Watch Duty. We could go on the map and see for ourselves where the fires were, how large, how fast, and what the response was to extinguish them. It seems like Watch Duty helped responders get to the fires faster too and be more effective at putting them out. Often we got video updates. One day I saw a blaze across the lake from my house. Immediately I went to watch duty to see how to report it. But they had just reported it! Watching the real live efforts of firefighters on the ground and in the air, confirming progress on watch duty, relieved a lot of the anxiety living in such an area poses. Instead I felt proud and grateful to our responders. And I'm so great full to Watch Duty. We have had many fires since the app launched, but the firefighting responses have been more swift, more powerful and effective. The fires got put out fast. I tell everyone to get Watch Duty. I think the creators deserve a state award. Watch duty saves lives..Aslam's momVersion: 2023.8.20

Helpful SuggestionsFirst I would like to thank whoever had the idea for this app. It is a very nice convenient way to monitor the fires in our area. I know this app was predominantly developed for the benefit of firefighters and coordinators to have accurate information but as a citizen user I would like to make a couple of improvement suggestions that you might want to add during the slow season. First a contact button so end users can tell you about their experience (you can put a notification that it is not consistently monitored if you need to). Second a way to sort notifications. I would like to know each fire in my county but in counties where my relatives live I would just like to monitor larger fires (mostly for smoke and to see if we need to invite them over to get out of the smoke). These things would be helpful to me and other users may have some other ideas. Really happy to have this app..Bugged to bitsVersion: 2023.5.24

Subscribe to This App!No ads, no glitches, just all the real, actionable info about where the fires are, status, red flag areas, wind direction/velocity, size of fire, evacuations, even locations of cameras you can view, etc etc, literally, all the info you need about the fires in real time, often faster than any other source of info I’ve seen. Paid subscription is well worth it bc the peace of mind afforded by knowing the status of fires eases my mind measurably when I’m not able to contact family/friends. This app is free but paid subscriptions unlock even more features like notifications, and even more granular details on the map. The app is run by volunteers who are also, in my opinion, heroes!For those who cannot afford the paid version, the free version is still a very good resource and ad free. Thank you for developing this invaluable app! I can’t help but suspect it’s already saved many lives..VoiceOf9:30Version: 2025.1.9

Required for Mountain LivingThis app has been invaluable to us as we live in the Colorado mountains, and fires have become a regular part of our lives. Watch Duty gives us prompt notifications when a fire has started, clear details about where it’s headed from the wind map, where crews are in the process of fighting it, and when it’s time to go. It also allows us to notify our friends quickly when a fire pops up in their area and allows us to mobilize quickly to help them. Watch Duty gave us a notification this year that a wildfire (Stone Canyon Fire) had started less than a half of a mile from our home when we were out of town on vacation - and this allowed us to have enough time to mobilize our friends and community to get all 40 of our livestock, chickens, cats, dogs and valuables off our property within the hour. We’re very thankful for this app!! 🙏🏼❤️ Thank you!.CO Mountain LivinVersion: 2024.11.3

Excellent Information DesignI live in the fire-prone Pacific Northwest and have spent anxious days and nights with bags and car packed, ready to evacuate if the threat level increased. Seeing that dreadful orange glow on hills too close for comfort is heart stopping. This app gives me peace of mind and an easy way to keep tabs on any fires near me or my friends and family. But on top of that, I’m a UX designer, and I am immensely impressed with the quality of the information and interaction design of this app. The developers must have had a talented designer on their team, and it shows. It’s clean, easy to understand at a glance, and intuitive to use. Kudos, team, and thank you for this amazingly helpful app. I’m still anxious about the current fire season but this at least gives me a solid tool for dealing with it. Now please: if you live where it’s hot and dry, DO NOT USE FIREWORKS. Or start fires. Or shoot off-range. Or otherwise risk a conflagration.HiyazekeVersion: 2023.8.16

Peace of mindThis app truly brought a sense of relief to my family during the Southfork Fire. To be able to see almost exactly where the line was and receive the updates and concerns in the area every few hours was unbelievable. I feel like this app helped to connect the community in a way that people didn’t expect. It also brought my 85 year old grandma a sense of relief and hope as our family vacation home of over 30 years was within a few feet of the flames. We lost my Grandpa last year and Ruidoso was one of his favorite places to be! My Grandma felt she was about to lose a part of him all over again. My heart aches for the family’s affected and those that lost their everything and even their lives. We count our blessings everyday and continue to keep those more severely affected in our thoughts. Strength be with those this has touched..Austin,TX806Version: 2024.6.18

Watch Duty is incredible! A must have app for our LAFD family!This app is absolutely remarkable! As a firefighter’s daughter, our family has enjoyed this app for over a year now. What began as informational and recreational observation on our part, has turned into a life saving tool during the recent onslaught of California wild fires. These timely updates and continuous accurate coverage have made this our number one source of reliable news. We appreciate their specificity, reliability and timely information. And while we enjoyed the free app for some time, we have recently purchased the yearly membership to show our appreciation and contribute to their outstanding coverage and hard work. Thank you Watch Duty for keeping us notified and safe during our most recent evacuation. Our Los Angeles City Fire Department family is grateful for your community service..Stacie BakerVersion: 2024.12.19

Notifications need to be much louderThis app has the potential to be really fantastic and the go to resource for Sonoma and Napa County residents. It sends alerts when a fire is reported, which is extremely beneficial for those of us (myself very much included) in this area that has a panic attack when the wind picks up, we hear a fire engine, or we smell smoke. The only complaint I have is the alerts are not nearly loud enough. I actually just got an alert on my phone and the only reason I heard it is because it was right next to me. I always have my phone volume turned up to the maximum, especially during fire season, so phone volume isn’t the problem. So, my only recommendation for making this app better is giving the user the option to change the alert sounds so that they’re louder. Other than that? This will be a really great app for everyone and I thank the developers for creating it..GiantsfanMeagVersion: 2021.8.3

Fantastic AppI used to have 5 or 6 apps that I monitored and switched between for wildfire info. TEDIOUS. I found Watch Duty three years ago and it cut that list down to two. After I check out the scanner function that was just added, I’m sure it will be just one. Great idea, fantastic execution! The alerts make sure you don’t miss an event, and the updates are the fastest you’ll see in wildfire monitoring anywhere! I’ve listened to the scanner while waiting for updates and I’ve seen status updates on Watch Duty less than a minute behind a scanner update. Now that they’ve added the scanner and flight tracker update I will be able to delete two more apps off my phone. Watch Duty is of my favorite apps of all time. And the most solid app for wildfire season I’ve ever seen. It’s bug free, it’s intuitive, it’s flipping FAST at getting info out. My only complaint, and I cannot stress how minor this is, I wish the app wasn’t quite so expensive, just so it was easier to justify to the wife. I live in fire country and I am positive this app will save my life and the lives of my family someday, that makes it priceless. Oh, more layer options and a dark mode would be dope but we all know that’s me being picky. This app could exist as it was 3 years ago and it would still be number one on my lineup..E RosencrantzVersion: 2024.9.11

Wish it Covered OR & WAIt looks like a great app with timely information that includes incident response team updates/reports. I downloaded it not having read the detail that is for California and wish this covered WA as well. It looks like this is would be a great collaboration between DNR services through OR and WA as well to give more comprehensive coverage and insights. There are too many other fragmented sources. I especially dislike how some incident teams rely on Facebook to disseminate information and after a few weeks of keeping the team page open Facebook decides to close it requiring the public to login to keep getting updates. Information like this needs to be publicly and widely accessible so whether it’s via an app like this or open websites, the information can’t be controlled by third parties including Facebook or others..Dookie 2xVersion: 2022.9.25

Outstanding fire and emergency Ap - free or buy 4 more featuresI got trapped outside the Costco in the 2021 Marshall fire in Colorado. That was an impossible situation due to the sudden nature of the fire and 90mph winds. Zero access to emergency info. Since then, my point to people is stay connected to an immediate info source and be ready to leave immediately. Have an emergency radio that goes off at night for fire warnings. Especially if u r in the west - Don’t wait. Stay in one car w/loved ones, have smoke goggles in the car, pack four days of prescription in that car and two days of dry pet food - and plenty of eye wash. Then. Just. Go. This Ap captures all the info needed to keep informed w/out twitter or some helpful websites that lack alert functions. Download it now. Set up your 4 counties. Or buy the year subscription. (Unlimited counties). Profound thx to these developers..Pinstriper4Version: 2024.6.18

Thank you!In LA for this fire apocalypse and this app has been a shining glimmer of hope in a trying time. Knowing what is happening, with real time alerts and useful information is so amazing. Everyone is recommending it to each other & everyone I know has installed it. I was going to donate in gratitude and support — the app is free from this non profit entity as a public service, but it far exceeds any regular disaster info available. I was using the Fire Department map on its own (which is incorporated into this app), but having the alert functionality is key. Instead of donating, I decided to get a Pro Membership so I could see more info. The free app is very useful, but the air support and power information with the Pro are especially helpful, but the general, free alerts are life saving. Thank you developers. Stay safe everyone..DangerSquirrelVersion: 2024.12.19

Award-worthyThis app is an excellent source of information crucial for safety and decision-making during California wildfires. Up-to-the minute updates of new evacuation warnings and orders. Knowledgeable “staff reporters” monitor first responders radio feeds and report significant developments. Excellent maps show latest available info re fire locations, and evacuation areas. You have the option to put in an address for a “point” on the map do you can keep track of how close the fire is to a location. You can add satellite hot spots and wind speed/direction. You can opt for location-based notifications so you become aware of info as soon as it’s put out. It’s a sad thing that we need this, but having used this during the LA fires, I would never want to go without it in any disaster. And they’re non-profit! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! 🙏🏼❤️.FinallyanipodVersion: 2024.12.19

It’s like Fire Twitter but without all the dramaI’ve tried every fire app out there and my phone generally has about six or seven apps devoted to fire season (you only need to survive one fire before you get as hyper-vigilant as that… and I’ve been in four) this one is by far the best. I used to head to Twitter to get helpful info like photos of the fire, info on evacs, etc. But I never felt comfortable recommending Twitter to friends and family since it’s a “wretched hive of scum and villainy” not to mention the uptick lately is the insane on there (space lasers and the like) it’s also not super user friendly anymore with important info swept away by promoted tweets etc. This app offers the same helpful info as Fire Twitter used to provide (evac zones, photos from various streets, updated info from dispatch on location, size, speed etc) but with a nice filter that allows for only the relevant and necessary information without all the “it was a Krakosian space aliens alliance from DC…my cat told me so” craziness. In addition you can adjust the alerts and notifications so you don’t get overwhelmed by every garbage fire and the like. They only report on the stuff you need to be aware of (unlike PulsePoint where you can get an alert for a dumpster fire that was already put out but it makes your heart race anyway cuz it’s completely without context on there) and you can see exactly where it is in relation to you immediately. 10/10 I tell everyone I know here to get this app and they all have and love it. I only hope someday it can expand to other parts of the country as sadly I think the era of mega fires is here to stay until we fix the planet. So grateful for this valuable resource..ToZaHiltVersion: 2022.8.8

MY WILD FIRE WATCH GO TO - up to date & accurateThis ap is the best for wildfire warnings and status and includes things like status of fires, size, evacuation alerts, nearby human and animal shelter centers, fire department announcements and more for free. Paid versions include info on resources like planes, helicopters, wind direction, air quality, and much more. The free ap is sufficient to save lives. The ap is continuously updated and improved upon, always adding new features. I live in a rural area where wildfires are a constant threat. I don’t bother with anything else. There is no time to check a bunch of different apps or social media accounts when you are prepping to evacuate and are already stressed the heck out. All fire departments and CalFire should be giving public announcements about using the Watch Duty app to people who live in fire prone areas..DreamzofhorsesVersion: 2024.9.25

Watch Duty is criticalWhen my community was threatened by the Bridge Fire (2024), Watch Duty was a critical source of information. Watch Duty provided updates on the fire perimeter, hot spots, and wind direction. It was easy to access and monitor this data on the app. Watch Duty even included locations of each address within and near the fire perimeter. This was helpful in getting an idea of which homes were impacted before we could see it for ourselves. This data was highly accurate. When we were able to return home, we measured the distance from our patio to the edge of the fire; we were only a 120 ft from the fire, and the map on Watch Duty was spot on. We continuously monitored hotspots in the app, which let us know if large hot spots were still in the area and where the fire was continuing to spread..Megan_ElisabethVersion: 2026.3.4

User-friendly, fast, and informationalI really appreciate that this exists. I used to have a different fire monitoring app, but it was plagued with ads and important information (i.e., evacuation maps) were behind paywalls. This app puts everything out there for FREE, as it should be. I know this app is helping so many of my friends right now with the fires burning in Pasadena and Los Angeles, I'm very grateful. It's very easy to use and navigate; you can access: evacuation maps, see fire perimeters, real-time updates from organizers/personnel on the ground and in the air, surveillance (when available), and a map of shelters for people, small pets and large pets. I love that it's all in one. There is a paid option for more information on the fires, but that info is less important, and you don't need it..EvaisasillygooseVersion: 2024.12.19

Priceless - saved livesI purchased a membership just to support the creators of this app. The information and updates on it were always up to date and invaluable as we were managing the la fires evacuation. Even though info is available elsewhere having all the information in one place in the forms of layers allowed me to keep up to date with wind direction, live cameras , air quality, perimeter of issue, heat maps. It was a very robust set of info in one place and the creators of the app were not greedy. Easily they can charge a lot for so many options . Instead they allowed all these features in their free version and helped thousands of people stay safe during the La fires. Bravo to them. You deserve our support and membership. Wishing you best in all endeavors.ZlishaVersion: 2024.12.19

Hawarden fireI downloaded the app to keep track of what was going on with my brothers house and my house and it helped me to know when to evacuate. As I was in my garage, I looked up & the plane was right at the end of my driveway dropping red goo so I figured out that if they were doing that there must be fire right there so since I wasn’t getting any notifications to evacuate, I knew I had to go so I grabbed my doggy and left and I’m in a wheelchair so luckily, my husband asked me to put some stuff in the car because he no one was here with me. My house was on the news, but it wasn’t because it was burned down It was because the fire was at my driveway and the great people in the plane got it put out before it took out my house so you helped save my house and my life. Thank you very much.!.KatpurrVersion: 2024.7.25

Invaluable resource!The lack of reliable information during the recent Southern California fires left me feeling frustrated. A friend told me about the Watch Duty app. Upon downloading it, I was able to see where the Eaton Fire was in relation to my friends’ homes. I was able to see the fire line, and was happy to see that one friend’s house had been spared. Unfortunately, the other friend nearby lost everything. I hadn’t been able to get in touch with the friend who lost his home for a couple of days, so being able to see what was going on in his area gave me a little less of a helpless feeling. He’s safe, but he lost everything. I highly recommend Watch Duty to anyone in an area prone to fires. I upgraded to the paid version, as I want to keep this app going..TakePawsVersion: 2025.1.9

This app is an incredible help to the publicRecently heard of this App and downloaded it. A fast moving fire began in my vicinity just days after downloading it and I used it to network with a friend to pass information to a community who was needing to evacuate with limited communications because their power had been shut off. Because of this App, people were quickly notified who would not have been because they were away from their neighborhood and at work. Children were quickly removed out of harms way, as well as pets and livestock due to this App alerting me with an audible “heads up!” and in turn we networked quickly through a handful of people who were on it! Thank you so very much to all of you who run this App!!.Happy with apyVersion: 2024.7.15

Map disappearedMap disappeared yesterday. I’ve tapped every option in app and checked for an update but there’s no update. When the app works it’s good. I wish the paid version wasn’t so expensive. If the price was way less, a lot more people could pay to subscribe to it. The reported cause of fire’s should be posted! In California unhoused people, drunks, druggies set most of the fires. Many firefighters and LEO know who they are. Arrests and citations are rare, to keep crime stats rigged as low. IMO, tell the truth to save what’s left of California! *Update, as soon as I wrote my review an UPDATE popped up! Update returned the map. Review glitched apparently. Hopefully it’ll post now. Uploading photos, videos shouldn’t require location turned on. It should be an option. Drop price to 4.00 per year. Then see millions subscribe to PRO VERSION..Johan TiburonVersion: 2025.6.25

Support This Excellent App!This app provides accurate and important information about wildfires. It keeps track of all fires in your area (and elsewhere) along with evacuation notices, where a fire is in relation to you at your location, and any videos or updated reports from the various fire agencies (CalFIRE, USFS, Tribal OES, etc). It tells you when the info was last updated. And that’s just the free version. The paid version also provides all of the air activity including what kind of plane and what it’s used for (observation, water drops, etc), and their flight path. I was able to watch a plane circle an area in real time even before a fire there was reported. They are a non-profit and do a tremendous service. Please support them and keep this awesome app going!.BRBeth93Version: 2023.8.22

Grateful to the creators of this appMy only cousin (sister) lives in LA, and I'm in NY. She's owing her sight and doesn't watch the news regularly. I found your app and actually was the person who told her these weren't the normal annual fires. Without your app, I would have been frantic for many more hours, unable to tell her by phone exactly what was happening. I spent many weeks visiting LA when I was younger and I love the city. I knew it when, back in the early 1970s. Thank all of you for contributing to this invaluable resource! I was able to find all my favorite haunts, and the old family home (which was safe, though it's not in our family anymore), and know what was happening, as it was happening. THANK YOU for the best app out there!!.ThegolubVersion: 2025.1.29

For Your Peace of Mind, everyone needs Watch DutyI have a home at Lake Almanor. I’ve lived through the fear and not knowing what’s going on through The Camp and The Dixie fires. Watch Duty keeps one up to date and allow us to watch what is going on. Unfortunately, The Park Fire, which originated in Chico, is now threatening to enter the burn scar of the Dixie Fire and finish what the Dixie Fire couldn’t do, envelop the Lake Almanor area. I hope and Pray Cal Fire can stop it. At least now I know exactly what is happening. Thank you so much for your service. I am a retired widow and when all this uncertainty is over. I would like to volunteer with Watch Duty. I’m glued to you daily and sometimes nightly. Thank you so much. Your website has everything from wind direction to air quality. Kathy.KislipsVersion: 2024.7.25

A must haveMy father was a Fire Captain, as a child, he instilled the urgency to respect fire. From early on I feared and respected the flame and lived a cautious life from then to now. As an adult and living on the Paradise ridge, I became hyper vigilant and continually prepared for what was imminent. We lost our home in the Paradise Camp fire and have recently moved into our rebuilt home, I have high anxiety for fear of more fires. I can guarantee I’ll be living on Watch duty’s app. I used it last year while traveling while our home was being rebuilt so that I can warn loved ones who were on the ridge in case they were going to be effected by another event. Thank you so much for this amazing app, I’m grateful for all of you working to keep us safe continue to make Watch Duty an important tool..The Wild SierraVersion: 2023.5.10

A ‘Must Have’ App for CaliforniansI rarely review apps, but WatchDuty has exceeded my expectations in every way. The app provides information in an incredibly timely manner. We recently had a fire nearby and had been watching with concern as the CalFire spotter planes circled overhead. Within minutes the fire was listed on WatchDuty, updates were posted, and just a few minutes after the spotter planes stopped circling the app reported that fire crews had the fire contained and the air assets had been released. We sighed in relief and said thankful prayers for both CalFire AND WatchDuty! I sleep better at night—and are more confident leaving our pets at home during the day—knowing that this app will give me advance notice of a potentially concerning event nearby..CAHeadHunterVersion: 2022.8.18

A Life-Saving and Property-Saving App❣️I only recently discovered this marvelous app and because of its accurate and real-time information, I was able to avoid driving into a deadly situation. Yesterday, I was on my way from Bakersfield to Lake Isabella, for a second medical appointment. Just as we approached the mouth of Kern River Canyon and dead cell-phone coverage, we got an alert that a fire had broken out, mid-point in the canyon. Had we not slowed down, the road would have been blocked after we’d entered the canyon, instead of beforehand. The fast-growing Boral Fire is just tearing along the steep walls if the canyon and I can only hope that all those people working on the road repair, were able to evacuate quickly, as well❣️.Beekeeper911Version: 2024.7.25

Incredible service!Watch Duty provides up to the minute information on ongoing fires. I just learned from an interview that they do this by volunteers, listening to firefighters communications, confirming what they hear, then posting. Not only do they provide information on ongoing fires of all sizes, they show evacuation zones, and I just saw additional information such as Red Cross water bottle sites, animal shelters, etc. This app provides one stop viewing to quickly gather details that are up to the minute . It is an extremely easy to use interface. This is what the myriad of government agencies should be providing, yet volunteers have to pull it all together. Please become a member, and donate to keep this valuable service going..VotingcitizenVersion: 2025.1.9

Phenomenal, must have appIncredible free app that pulls together every bit of information in real time that I used to have to go to multiple sites for: fire perimeters, containment %s, evacuation zones/statuses/centers, wind maps, air quality maps, real time feeds on information from fire services and county governments, and more. Must have app for anyone living in a wildfire risk area. They are also not-for-profit so please consider making a donation or purchasing a yearly membership if you get value from the app. $25/year is a steal for what they provide. And if we support them financially, maybe they won't get bought out and ensh*ttified by big tech! (I do not work for and am not affiliated with the makers of this app in any way.).Jmh42Version: 2024.12.19

Thank you!I love Watch Duty to keep up on incidents in my area. Recently there was an evacuation order in my city and looking at their map could see that the zone was not far from mine. But I was 2 hours away from home at the time. I made the decision to come home early as I have the big vehicle in case the order expanded to more zones in my city. I wanted to be home just in case and not away with the possibility of not being able to get home. Thankfully the firefighters in our area knocked down the fire quickly and my friends that had to evacuate got to go back home and the order was not expanded. But I was so happy to know this right away thanks to Watch Duty. God bless all of you!.1margieVersion: 2025.6.19

ServiceThanks to watch duty I had the forethought to check on a friend in an area affected by one or more of the fires. She had been out of power for 2 days. I was able to have some basics delivered to her in the form if a generator, cords, fuel and a heater. She’s my my oldest and best friend, since 1971 and her husband well into his 70s with medical conditions. It’s a great feeling being able to help those you love. Watch duty made that possible. Plus years ago I used to jump out of perfectly good helicopters as a direct attack wild lands firefighter. I’m way too old and beat up but I’d do it again if they’d let me. There’s no greater rush than jumping in and knocking that fire down. That’s being of service..GabikabazdmegVersion: 2024.12.19

A must have appI live in San Diego and have a cousin in LA. This was an amazing app to keep tabs on the fire by my cousin and within a week and a half a fire broke out across the street from me. I heard the sirens and within 5 minutes my watch duty app alerted me to the fire. Low winds and the many many first responders who arrived in no time keep the fire from advancing and saved the condos on the ridge from being burned. I have been able to keep tabs on my cousin and friends around So Cal. Thank you for this informative, up to date, amazing app! I appreciate you and all who help you! In talking with my neighbors 90% of them have the Watch Duty app! Thank you! Thank you!!.ICBMVersion: 2025.1.9

Real time accurate reports, finally, that changed our lives and relieve anxietyThe rapidity with which this app share information has truly changed our lives for the better. Whether the wildfire update be devastating or celebratory, it’s always a relief to find accurate real time info. This altered the routes I travel. I share this w everyone in the vicinity of wildfire or fallout with confidence. I look forward to seeing the coverage grow worldwide, and adaptations for other life altering events such as natural disasters or geopolitical altercations. Having lived and worked in war zones and disaster areas, I understand, respect and appreciate this app beyond words. Get it. Share it. Breathe.KaindwaysVersion: 2022.8.8

Essential, Accurate, Intuitive-- critical to have on your phone.If you live in CA you know Fire can occur anywhere, any season. You want to be alerted of a fire near you, your loved ones, your business, your animals, your friends, your property. Watch Duty will be up-to-the-minute best info, with facts and imagery and maps and progress updates. One place to look in those crucial minutes. Just put it on your family and friends' phones, you will sleep better. I have been evacuated numerous times, and lost everything to a fire. Watch Duty is so essential, so easy to use, and beneficial-- if we had it years ago it might have been a game changer..LindafischVersion: 2022.8.12

The Goldilocks of alert apps!For those of us who have lived the past 5 years anxiously looking for accurate and timely information about fires in our area, Watch Duty is the “just right” alert app. The app manages to hit the sweet spot of providing what you need to know, when you need to know it, without causing alert fatigue. The local “reporters” review scanners and send real time updates so you can know if something is headed your way. This really is a “must add”app to your smart device or computer, especially since fire season is a year-round reality in California. Keep your official notifications on, and add Watch Duty to be sure you in the know..CaliAli38.5Version: 2022.8.8

Excellent & getting betterI’ve used watch duty for about 4 years, after struggling with other fire apps available at that time. I also became a paid subscriber. Since then it has only gotten better. I love being able to set the notifications separately for each county. Near me, I get every notification for a scrap of smoke. Further out, I get notifications for more established fires. When camping in my camper van, I get notifications near where I am parked. I have literally watched a lightning strike and then seen the resulting fire pop up in watch duty. Now covers all 50 states. Top rated, most valuable app on my phone..Middle RoadsVersion: 2026.5.29

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Watch Duty: Wildfire & Floods Negative Reviews

Great app but…I loved this app. It does a great job for the most part at what it says. But after getting the same emergency notification for an area I did not follow nor live in (nor would the fire have had any physical impact on me or anyone within 40+ miles) about 12 times over a 24 hour period, even after turning notifications AND sound off, at all hours of the day. I removed the app cuz it was going off at 2am. I still received the same alerts twice the next day. The event it was notifying me about had been put out for 24 hours at this point but I was still getting the notification. I sent a support message to the app. The reply told me I didn’t know how to remove an app from my phone and that was it. The fact that I deleted the app and it was still able to take over my phone is concerning. Sorry I can’t recommend the app. No support for an actual problem and an email saying I’m dumb. Cool thanks. Tell your friends.AdamtdeVersion: 2023.7.24

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