How Watch Duty became a go-to app during natural disasters

Led by tech outsider John Mills, Watch Duty topped the App Store and filled a critical emergency gap as Los Angeles faced one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in history.

During January’s unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles, Watch Duty—a digital platform providing real-time fire data—became the go-to app for tracking the unfolding disaster and is credited with saving countless lives. Six months out from the fires, Watch Duty’s founder and CEO, John Mills, shares how his small nonprofit responded in the heat of the crisis and became a trusted source—even for government agencies. As wildfire season rages on and Texas recovers from devastating floods, Watch Duty’s story underscores both our growing vulnerability to natural disasters driven by climate change and the power of community-based solutions to keep us safe and connected when it matters most.