Empowering Community Resilience
When wildfires ignite, seconds count. For residents in fire-prone areas, staying informed can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. That’s why Watch Duty, a non-profit organization committed to delivering real-time wildfire updates, developed a mobile app designed to keep communities informed with timely, local fire information.
Watch Duty was born from a phrase many of us have probably said to ourselves, “There has to be a better way.” When co-founder John Mills encountered wildfires near his home in 2021, he struggled to find real-time data and information about the fire’s movement, evacuations, and current conditions. That’s when he decided to create a solution to bring data to people facing similar scenarios, from residents to local firefighters.
With a mission to publish only the facts that provide true situational awareness in case of emergency, without editorialization or prediction, Watch Duty was born. Watch Duty is a free app and website that relies on real-time data, which provides a deeper layer of information versus relying solely on government updates or fire weather models. Pulling together data from various sources in the field allows Watch Duty to provide information quickly. The app delivers real-time updates from trained fire reporters, and it provides access to data from local weather stations, cameras, and other information sources. These provide verified data and insights to improve situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies.
Real-Time Data Helps Power Life-Saving Decisions
To help make this possible, Watch Duty uses Synoptic’s Weather API to access reliable, real-time environmental data that supports the app’s fire weather intelligence. Real-time observation data plays an essential role in delivering the kind of context communities need when facing dynamic, fast-moving conditions. “Watch Duty relies on accurate and timely information. Providing real-time observational weather data helps our users make informed decisions when seconds count,” adds Dave Merritt, Watch Duty CTO & Cofounder.
Numerous examples of how Watch Duty has saved lives can be found on their YouTube channel. One man from the Davis Fire in Reno, NV last year shared that his use of the app allowed him and his daughter to return from a dinner to save their beloved pets with minutes to spare. Because of Watch Duty’s Reliance on real-time data, users can act quickly to protect what matters most
As a B Corp company, Synoptic is dedicated to ensuring that weather and environmental information is available to all. Supporting Watch Duty aligns directly with our purpose-driven commitment to provide data that improves public safety, empowers local response efforts, and ensures that critical information reaches those who need it most. Our B Corp and mission were one of the reasons Watch Duty chose to work with Synoptic. Watch Duty is 100% free and was developed to serve the needs of all people affected by wildfires.
What started with just 3 counties in northern California, expanded to the entire state, and has now grown to serve 22 states. With plans to expand nationwide, Watch Duty is providing access to timely and accurate information for users to stay informed and out of harm’s way.
By powering tools like the Watch Duty app, Synoptic is proud to stand with others who are turning data into actionable insights and saving lives.