Watch Duty Becomes Top Free App on App Store Amid California Fires
Watch Duty has overtaken ChatGPT as the leading free app as wildfires spread in California, highlighting its importance for real-time updates.
Watch Duty, California, Wildfires, Los Angeles, App Store
Los Angeles: So, have you heard about this app called Watch Duty? It’s been making waves lately. It’s designed to help folks track wildfires with live maps and alerts. And guess what? It just became the number one free app on the App Store!
It’s pretty wild how it jumped ahead of ChatGPT, especially with all the fires going on in Southern California right now. The app has been around since 2021 and is used by firefighters and first responders across the West.
What’s cool about Watch Duty is that it gets its info from a mix of active and retired firefighters, government reports, and even volunteers who monitor radio scanners. Unlike other apps that just rely on government alerts, this one claims to give you real-time updates. But remember, it’s not a substitute for official info.
When you download it, you can see wildfires near you and get alerts about evacuation orders and firefighting efforts. It’s super handy, especially if you have family or friends in the area.
Just this Wednesday, the app shot to the top of the charts as over 70,000 people in and around LA faced evacuation orders due to the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. These fires have already destroyed over 1,000 structures and sadly, taken at least two lives.
Ryan Petersen, the CEO of Flexport, even tweeted about it, urging his friends in LA to download the app for real-time tracking. He called it the official wildfire app used by firefighters in California, packed with updates, video feeds, and evacuation maps.
It’s a reminder of how quickly things can change. The app’s founder, John Mills, started it after moving to a fire-prone area in Northern California. It’s definitely a tool worth having if you’re in the region.
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