Best App for Wildfires

If you live in an area where there are wildfires, here's why having this app is a must.

#notsponsored

If you live in an area prone to wildfires, you know the frustration of trying to find reliable, up-to-date information. Sometimes you smell smoke or see it in the distance, and you scramble to piece together scattered bits of info from different sources. That’s where Watch Duty comes in. It’s a nonprofit app available on Android, iOS, and the web that consolidates all the critical information about a wildfire in one spot. And it’s not just some AI throwing random data at you—real people curate and vet this information from online sources, scanners, satellite images, and official reports. You just click on the fire, and everything you need to know is right there.

Right now, it’s available only in the western U.S., but since that’s where most of the big fires happen, it makes sense. You get everything from evacuation orders to live wildfire cameras and even updates on road conditions. If you’re in the danger zone, you’ll know exactly where shelters are and get detailed directions. Plus, you can see live satellite data, including fire hotspots and wind direction, which can help predict where a fire is headed.

Watch Duty is free, though you can support them with a membership to unlock extra features. For professionals like land managers or firefighters, there’s a more advanced subscription. One standout feature is the real-time updates, kind of like social media for wildfires, where you can see curated photos and posts about the fire. Honestly, if you live in a wildfire-prone state, this app could be a game-changer. It might even save lives. I’m not affiliated with them, just a fan of what they’re doing.

00:00 Wildfires Near Me?
00:15 Why You Need Watch Duty
00:45 How Watch Duty Consolidates Information
01:00 Availability in Western U.S.
01:25 Watch Duty Interface Overview
01:55 Evacuation Orders and Shelters
02:30 Updates and User Submissions
03:00 Integrated Social Media and Live Cameras
03:40 Map Layers and Fire Perimeters
04:10 Satellite Heat Maps and Wind Direction
04:40 Air Quality and Red Flag Warnings
05:00 Flight Path Information and Pro Features
05:25 Push Alerts for County Wildfires
05:40 Final Thoughts and Support for Watch Duty

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[peterkahapea]

Have been watching the Line Fire for the last 3 days here in Hawaii on the Watch Duty app. Great App! Became a Member just because and to support the great work that these folks do.

[stewarthill]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. We have a home in the Santa Cruz Mountains and I am a retired Firefighter . Started in CalFire in 1976 then went to a city dept in Santa Clara County. I just downloaded this app and even paid the basic membership fee. Thanks for sharing this great and necessary app. 🇺🇸🚒

[hikeclimbsail]

Thank you!! Just in time for the Airport Fire updates. Have Alert OC, however, this is all-in-one having this app. Much appreciated! 🙏🏼

[creativegeek]

Thank you for posting this. I’m in Idaho and dealing with lots of wildfires in my region. I plan on supporting them also. Must have these days.

[Desert_Muley]

Thanks! I just watched your video while under evacuation orders for the Airport fire! I just installed it. Thanks again!

[OutdoorActionPhoto]

Nice app. Only real updated source for the airport fire. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Galarid]

Just downloaded the app. It's amazing. Thank you! I'm located in Rancho Cucamonga, right up by the foothills. So this is a must-have.

[twloughlin]

I live in the NE but this looks like an absolute must have for people in western states. So nice to see technology used in this way. Thanks Chris.

[dorianmerrill]

I'm living in Three Rivers, CA this month and have relied on Watch Duty for updates with the Coffee Pot fire so close. It's an excellent resource!

[memathews]

Thanks for covering Watch Duty, I started using it this spring and have spread the word ever since. The app provides NICC updates complete with photos and maps, but the best feature is the ability to set push updates and it's immediate coverage of small fires before it hits NICC. Fun fact: NICC area closure maps are linked that include trail closure details as well as Evac 1-2-3 graphics.

[majostm]

This is really well done. I've been using Gaia with the historical and current fire layers, which is quite good - but this brings things to a whole new level. Thanks for sharing this!

[catblue]

Thank you for this. I will send your video link about this app to my friend in California.

[markvincent]

I've been using this app to monitor the Fish Creek Fire on Togwotee Pass, Wyoming, and it is absolutely awesome!

[suzanneleslie]

My brother lives in Angelus Oaks. He's staying with me in Yucaipa. I didn't know about this site, so thank you so much.

[rkatrails]

I've been watching the Davis Fire in Reno. My friends home is 3 miles uphill on Mt. Rose from where the fire started below. The fire has great accessibility for fire fighters because it's right next to Hwy 580 and the Washoe Lake where the aircraft has easy access to water, but there's still zero containment 48 hours later.

[jasonmcochran]

Watch Duty is the best source for up to date fire info for those of us from the Eastern US who visit the Sierra Nevada's every year from. I also used it this year to monitor the devasting fires in the Sierra Blanca mountains near Ruidoso NM.

[tanvach]

This is amazing, exactly what I’ve been looking for! I was using Gaia GPS but it didn’t have any near as much fire specific info. Thank you for sharing.

[kennyle]

I just downloaded this on my phone and it seems very informative. I'm definitely using it whenever go for some outdoor adventures.

[IrinaLogra]

Thank you so much. So sad that Line fire is happening right now :( it prevented us to hike Gorgonio this weekend, but most important it is so devastating that so many animals are impacted.

[Scott_in_LA]

This is much more useful than the State and Fed sites - all in one place and curated info! Love it, thanks for the tip!