Watch Duty: A Lifeline for Los Angeles Amidst Wildfires
In the midst of the raging wildfires that have engulfed parts of Los Angeles, a remarkable app called Watch Duty has emerged as an invaluable resource for residents. As Maxwell Zeff from TechCrunch highlighted, this app leverages a collaborative network of active and retired firefighters, first responders, official reports, and dedicated volunteer reporters who diligently monitor radio scanners to deliver real-time wildfire updates.
During the recent fires, when official alerts were often unreliable or delayed, Watch Duty quickly rose to prominence, topping the charts on Apple’s App Store. In a recent interview with The New York Times, CEO John Mills shared some impressive statistics: since Tuesday alone, the app was downloaded 2 million times and has served 14 million unique users this week.
- Operated by a nonprofit organization
- Funded primarily through donations
- Staffed with 15 full-time employees and 200 volunteers
Mills emphasized that Watch Duty collects minimal personal data from its users and firmly stated his commitment to avoiding commercialization. “I owe it to my community to not be a disaster capitalist,” he declared.
{John Mills, CEO of Watch Duty}
This approach not only builds trust among users but also ensures that the app remains focused on its core mission: to provide timely and accurate information during these critical events.
