Watch Duty

A big thanks to the code[ish] podcast team at Heroku for a great conversation, and for the ongoing support that helps us communicate rapidly with every Watch Duty user 🙏

Podcasts A collection of podcasts with Heroku software engineers, application developers, and product managers on technology, tools, and tips.

Our co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Dave Merritt dove in with Julián Duque on the new code[ish] podcast about the thinking (and hard work!) that goes into keeping the Watch Duty app delivering in key moments. Listen here-
heroku.com/podcasts?utm...

How do you build technology for a service like Watch Duty, when it absolutely can't go down, no matter how many people need it at once?

Retired first responder or passionate about making a difference in an emergency? Join Don and our team of volunteer reporters. watchduty.org/volunteer

Every time you get an emergency alert from Watch Duty, it's coming from a real person plugged into emergency dispatch, reviewing wildfire cameras, and scraping official systems to validate every twist and turn. It's the human factor that turns chaos into clarity.

"Every retired firefighter will tell you—it's not just something you walk away from and leave behind."

Don spent a career protecting communities - it's still what he does every day, in a new way as a Watch Duty reporter.

“In times of emergency, we don’t always have access to everyone we need.”

First responders need to put all their focus on the emergency at hand. That’s one reason local leaders rely on Watch Duty for verified updates to support residents.

Information saves time. Information saves lives.

The result is a stronger connection between field operations and public communication -- you can get clear, reliable updates when you need to make decisions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Now, through the new integration with Watch Duty, agencies can choose to share confirmed details about fires faster from within the workflows they already use. That means less tech clutter for your emergency responders AND helps us get you trusted information sooner when every second counts.

Most people don’t realize firefighters coordinate emergencies using specialized technology behind the scenes. Tablet Command is the premiere tool for firefighters to manage and respond to incidents in real time. Now, we're working together. Here's why that matters for you:

We're grateful to all of you in the Watch Duty universe for continuing to drive this work, in ways big and small. Read our annual report at watchduty.org/annual-report

And at the end of the day, behind the Watch Duty you know and love is real humans - reporters, engineers, public safety experts... We're committed to serving their needs, from streamlined tech & processes for clear collaboration to the mental health support needed to work in the disaster space.

3️⃣ Strengthen our support systems: When millions depend on us, going down isn’t an option. We're investing to strengthen the backbone that keeps Watch Duty online when others fail.

2️⃣ Double the Watch Duty community: In December, we launched in all 50 states. We're working to make sure that every family has Watch Duty BEFORE disaster strikes.

1️⃣ Expand to more hazards: Alert systems aren't just failing for wildfires - we are seeing systems failures hurting every part of the country. We're expanding our scope to show up where clear, real-time information is needed.

2025 was a big year. 2026 is going to be even bigger. We’re about to double our impact, but only if we build the systems to sustain it.
In 2025, we maintained 100% uptime & served 16.8 million people directly with 1.1 billion+ page views. In 2026, here's what we're prioritizing for our community: 🧵

➡️ Many people in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, & Colorado are impacted by fast-growing vegetation fires
➡️ The NWS has issued a PDS warning: an extreme, life-threatening event
➡️ We've ramped up 24/7 coverage w/ all hands on deck to give you updates on developments. Follow app.watchduty.org or download

Ever wonder what happens before a Watch Duty alert reaches you?

From the first dispatch signal, to critical tracking sources like 'Fire Notification' radio feeds and wildfire cameras, to the ping on your phone, it’s a human-powered process designed to deliver clear, reliable safety information.

📹 Incredible footage courtesy of Keegan and the Community Brigade, Sean Garrison, & Connor Nelson 🙏

Many of the latest trainees lost their own homes in the Palisades Fire & the Brigade has helped them process the loss & feel empowered to take action. The Brigade & Watch Duty were founded on the same belief: when people have information, they can protect themselves when it matters most.

When Keegan cofounded the LA County Fire Department's Community Brigade, he knew that catastrophic wildfires would need all hands on deck. What he didn't know was that training volunteers to bridge the gap during wildfires would become a way to heal.

We're so glad to have your back on reliable info and alerts!

Watch Duty is a great tool of information. I wish we had something like it. If we did have something like it back then, we might have been able to get the word out a lot faster."

-John Lilienthal, Firefighter, Northern Sonoma County Fire District

"We lost our property in the 2019 Kincaid Fire. It had been a family home for 40 years at that point - it was our anchor. I was working to defend another property and the Chief gave us the order to get to my place. It was too late by the time we got there. (1/2)

(Find more from Sean at @thescarygary on Instagram with love to additional orgs that supported him: WUFAW Del Gato Rescue, & Urban Panthers Rescue)

He put down his camera and found a new mission in fire response- caring for pets left behind and finding a way to reunite them with their families. He used Watch Duty constantly to be able to move safely through fire areas (2/3)

When Sean was covering the Palisades fire as a photojournalist, he heard something he couldn't believe. Both pet owners and animal rescue organizations were barred from entering, and pets were stranded across the fire zone. (1/3)

"Try to explain to your 83-year old mother that she's got to start over with everything now." Firefighters don't just face fire professionally- they live it in their families and neighborhoods.

Cameras, radio traffic, social media, evacuation information - reporters like Miranda are translators to make information understandable to everyone.
Looking to make a difference for communities? Consider volunteering to translate key safety info: https://ow.ly/3MTo50Y0o6K

"They want to be helpers too" 💛