Watch Duty overtakes ChatGPT in the App Store as California wildfires spread

Like destructive fires keep getting angry In the Southern California area, an app that tracks wildfires with live maps and alerts has become the No. 1 free app in the Apple App Store.

The Watch Duty app, which launched in 2021 and is used by firefighters and first responders in the western United States, beat out ChatGPT, Lemon8 and Threads for the top spot as of Wednesday morning. Concerned citizens and residents of Los Angeles on social networks encouraged others will download the free app to receive updates on nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts. One user X published“Within 24 hours, I had never heard of Watch Duty and started checking the app religiously.”

The app is run by a Santa Rosa-based nonprofit. Sherwood Forest Servicehas already added 600,000 new users in just the last 24 hours, according to CEO John Mills. Watch Duty is powered by team volunteers and staff, including active and retired firefighters, dispatchers and veteran stormtroopers. The team uses automated alerts sent to its Slack platform whenever a 911 call comes in about a fire. They actively monitor fire-related events by listening to radio scanners, reviewing wildlife cameras and satellite data, and monitoring official updates from law enforcement, fire departments, and other public sources.

The app’s interface uses a color-coding system: dark red for active fires or burned areas, light red for mandatory evacuations, and yellow for evacuation warnings, signaling users to prepare for potential orders. However, it is important to remember that the application does not replace official information.

“What’s happening in Los Angeles right now is the worst thing I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been doing this. . . This is a disaster,” Mills. said Los Angeles Times. “It’s really hard to watch, but I’d rather do this than do nothing. It feels like we could do something to help, otherwise we’re just sitting here and watching the world burn.”

Mills was motivated to launch the app by his own experience fighting wildfires after moving to Sonoma County in 2020. During the 2020 Walbridge fire, which burned to the limits of his property, he relied on Facebook groups for updates and wondered if there was a better option. way to share information. Since launch, Watch Duty downloads have skyrocketed as climate-related weather events continue to impact communities. In December app said the number of annual active users increased to 7.2 million from 1.9 million in 2023.

Fires in Los Angeles, fueled by drought and high winds, are now causing widespread destruction beyond the immediate danger zones. As of Thursday morning, at least five people had died and more than 130,000 people had been ordered to evacuate as the fires continued to spread.