When the Palisades and Eaton wildfires broke out on January 7, millions of Angelenos were scared and frantic as they saw devastating images of blazing flames with no signs of stopping. It was amidst that anxiety and chaos that many, through word of mouth and social media, learned of the nonprofit app “Watch Duty”, that was providing free real-time data on evacuation orders and fire perimeters that could help them regain some control.
“The first 911 dispatch for the Palisades Fire came in at 10:30 AM, and our first alert was sent at 10:32 AM” said Watch Duty founder and CEO, John Mills, recalling those first few hours of the devastating fires. “We knew this day would be catastrophic.”
As the app moved swiftly to get information to impacted residents, news of the app traveled equally fast. Within 24 hours, 600,000 people had downloaded the app. By the end of the first week of the fires, subscribers had grown to 2.5 million. Even the City of Los Angeles began using the app’s live map in its Emergency Operations Center due to its power as a faster, more accurate tool than traditional systems.
As a Wildfire Recovery Fund grantee, Watch Duty represents the kind of intentional investments that the California Community Foundation is making to support the region’s recovery. Adopting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) guided best practices for disaster response, the foundation follows a “Response–Recovery–Rebuild” model to inform its grantmaking. Our focus prioritizes rehousing wildfire survivors, providing relief for displaced workers, reopening small businesses, and supporting essential infrastructure systems and emergency coordination services that help save lives and communities—like Watch Duty.
Cielo Castro, our Chief Officer of Policy and Programs, explains:
“At its core, Watch Duty is about saving lives through real-time, accessible information—and we’re proud to invest in the future of fire safety and resilience in California.”
Mills knows all too well how important it is to have reliable information you can trust when disaster strikes. Mills launched Watch Duty in 2021 after his home was threatened by wildfires in Northern California. In response, he quickly assembled a team that included former firefighters to create frontline solutions for residents.
Last year, the company launched Watch Duty Pro, a paid version of the app with critical data on utility lines, land ownership, and emergency infrastructure. Its subscribers now include first responders, utilities, and the LA Fire Department, which recently purchased the Pro version for every engine in its fleet.
But thanks to strategic funding, including support from CCF’s Wildfire Recovery Fund, Watch Duty was able to grow its team and support the expansion of its free app to more communities. New features in the app include fire progression modeling based on fuel moisture levels, and an innovative tool in predicting how a fire might spread.
“Community resilience is what it’s about,” says Mills. “And what CCF does is fill in the gaps that no government can do—period. Watch Duty has changed my life, and it is an honor for me to do it. I can’t imagine doing anything else. This is the world we live in, and I’m here to fight for it.”
Watch this video to learn more about Watch Duty’s mission and how your support is fueling smarter, safer communities.
To read more about our grantmaking click here.