This week, the Watch Duty app rose to the top of the Apple App Store charts due to the devastating fires in Southern California.
This week, the Watch Duty app rose to the top of the Apple App Store charts due to the devastating fires in Southern California.
Los Angeles residents are finding salvation in the free wildfire tracking app Watch Duty, The Verge writes .
Watch Duty has risen to the top of the Apple App Store charts this week as Californians strive to overcome the catastrophic wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
The app launched in 2021 and is now available in 22 states. It provides evacuation alerts, real-time text updates, photos and videos, and maps with flame icons to show regions where fires are burning. Users can access information on evacuation routes, shelter locations and firefighting efforts, and zoom in on the map to see the latest updates on exact locations.
Supported by a team of about 200 volunteers, many of whom are retired or active firefighters, dispatchers, or first responders, Watch Duty gathers wildfire information from official government reports, volunteer reporters, and 911 calls, which are then verified and monitored using radio scanners, wildlife cameras, satellites, and local law enforcement and fire department reports.
Watch Duty says its active users have grown to 7.2 million by December 2024, up from 1.9 million last year. Watch Duty’s vice president of operations, Nick Russell, said users are drawn to the app because it’s more accessible than manually checking multiple sources and social media updates, and because of its fact-checking network.
As a reminder, large-scale wildfires are raging in the Los Angeles area of southern California, USA, and are becoming uncontrollable due to winds. At least five people have died, about 130,000 residents have been evacuated, and more than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed, making the fire the most destructive in the city's history.
