Fire-Tracking App Watch Duty Downloaded 2 Million Times In Los Angeles

The fire-tracking app Watch Duty has reached over 2 million downloads and 14 million unique users this week, as Los Angeles residents rely on the collaborative platforms for updates on ongoing wildfires.

According to the New York Times, the tech company has provided more reliable up-to-date information compared to the county’s alert system. Many people in the region have downloaded Watch Duty and spread the word to get more users to benefit from the platform’s information.

Watch Duty’s Chief Executive John Mills explained that a nonprofit organization runs the app. The team in charge includes 15 full-time employees and about 200 volunteers, including former firefighters, reporters, and professionals who monitor radio broadcasts, reports, and official updates to add real-time information.

Mills, an entrepreneur from Northern California, built the app after he had to escape wildfires in the past and noticed the government’s technology needed to improve. He explained that the platform doesn’t collect too much personal data from users and that he doesn’t want to sell it or turn it into a for-profit company.

“This is my life and my community,” said Mills. “I owe it to my community to not be a disaster capitalist.”

The app is primarily funded by donations and currently covers 22 states in the U.S.

Users can download it for free and support the project by paying a $79 annual fee, subscribing for $24.99 per month, or making tax-deductible donations.

Google recently announced an AI-powered tool to detect wildfire called FireSat that should be released this year.