Watch Duty: Wildfire & Floods

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• One Year Membership — $24.99/year ($2.08/mo)
• Watch Duty Yearly Membership — $24.99/year ($2.08/mo)
• Watch Duty Pro — $29.99
• Watch Duty Pro — $99.99

Last verified 30 Aug 2026

Shown for US

• Free to download

Last verified 30 Aug 2026

Shown for US

4.9 50402 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5Such a Valuable, Generous Resource

   This 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.

   CuriosityDrawsMe · 30 Aug 2026

2. 5/5Excellent 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.

   MoBubs · 30 Aug 2026

3. 5/5The Best Way To Track Wildfires

   Thank 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 NELA · 30 Aug 2026

4. 5/5Thank 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

   Coelli · 30 Aug 2026

5. 5/5Game 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!

   Jessiahbell · 30 Aug 2026

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4.8 13244 ratings · Google Play

1. 5/5

   Awesome resource! I have friends scattered about that are ranchers, farmers, recreational property owners etc. We can track current conditions and know in nearly real time if they need help. I donated some $ because they do great work.

   B Jay Roberts · 31 Jul 2026

2. 5/5

   Great way to keep you informed of wildfires.

   Jim Orlando · 31 Jul 2026

3. 5/5

   Great resource if you live in a fire prone area.

   Rodger Wagner · 31 Jul 2026

4. 1/5

   all I ever got was asking for donations

   Phill Romero · 31 Jul 2026

5. 5/5

   This has taken the place of local AM radio stations in providing life saving information. Please donate if you use it. I'm thankful.

   Veronica Ross · 31 Jul 2026

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