# Watch Duty: Wildfire & Floods — Fire & Flood Maps and Alerts

> Real-time wildfire maps and alerts from vetted professionals. (iPhone/iPad app by Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-duty-wildfire-and-floods/id1574452924 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570929435)
- Category: News, Weather
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 50,618 App Store ratings · 760 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 72 MB
- Languages: American English, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese
- Released: 2021-08-10
- Data updated: 2026-09-02
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-duty-wildfire-and-floods/id1574452924/reviews.md

## What is Watch Duty?

Watch Duty is the only disaster mapping and alert app powered by real people giving you real-time information on wildfires and floods vetted by trained professionals, not robots or AI. While many other apps rely solely on government alerts, which can often be delayed, Watch Duty provides up-to-the-minute, life-saving information through a dedicated team of active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, first responders, and reporters who monitor radio scanners around the clock. We aim to keep you informed and safe with real-time updates and alerts.

Disaster Tracking Features:

- Push notifications about nearby safety impacting floods, wildfires, and firefighting or emergency response efforts
- Real-time updates as conditions change
- Evacuation orders & shelter information
- Active fire perimeters and progress
- Flash flood warnings and threat levels
- Current and projected river gauge flooding levels
- Infrared satellite hotspots from VIIRS and MODIS
- Wind speed and direction
- Power outage size and estimated resolution time
- Historical wildfire perimeters
- Air quality readings
- Street and satellite maps
- Air attack and air tanker flight tracker
- Save locations for quick access on the map

Watch Duty is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our service will always remain free of charge and free of ads. You can support our mission with a $25/year membership, which grants access to special features as a token of our appreciation.

Disclaimer: Watch Duty is not affiliated with any government agency. The information provided in this app is sourced from publicly available and trusted sources, including but not limited to government agencies, radio transmissions, and satellite data. Specific government sources include:

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: https://www.noaa.gov/
- VIIRS: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/instruments/viirs
- MODIS: https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): https://www.nifc.gov
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE): https://www.fire.ca.gov
- California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES): https://www.caloes.ca.gov
- National Weather Service (NWS): https://www.weather.gov/
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/
- Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/
- Department of Defense: https://www.defense.gov/
- National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/
- US Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/

For more information or support, feel free to contact us at support.watchduty.org.

Privacy Policy: https://www.watchduty.org/legal/privacy-policy

## Key features

- Real-time wildfire maps
- Push notifications for nearby fires
- Active fire perimeters
- Evacuation order alerts
- Air tanker flight tracker
- Satellite hotspot data

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Watch Duty Yearly Membership | $24.99 | per year |
| Watch Duty Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Watch Duty Pro | $29.99 | per month |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Watch Duty Annual Membership | $24.99 | one-time |
| One Year Membership | $24.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #12 in Top Free · News (US App Store)
- #10 in Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

## What do users think of Watch Duty?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Incredible resource
- 🚀 Reliable
- 🚀 Invaluable
- 🚀 Accurate and timely updates
- 👍 User-friendly
- 👍 Comprehensive information
- 👍 Helpful during emergencies
- 👍 Indispensable
- 👍 Crucial tool
- 👍 Life-saving
- 👍 Excellent app
- 👍 Fantastic app
- 👍 Impressive and well-done
- 👍 Informative

**Cons**

- 🐛 Incorrect fire location information
- 🐛 Notifications not working properly
- 🐛 Notifications need to be louder

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Incorrect fire location information
- Notifications not working properly

**Most requested features**

- Ability to report errors in fire location
- Option to narrow notification range by miles
- Ability to view earlier/past fires
- Dark mode option
- Ability to adjust notification tone

## Recent user reviews (10 of 760)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watch-duty-wildfire-and-floods/id1574452924/reviews.md

### 3/5 — the only disaster app

*2026-08-27, version 2026.4.9*

and will soon not run my ios 15.8.8?!

### 5/5 — Amazing app!

*2026-08-27, version 2026.8.19*

I absolutely love the ease of use and information provided by this app! Thank you for keeping all of us informed/safe!

### 5/5 — nice to have live access

*2026-08-27, version 2026.8.19*

wish it showed wind directions and future possible models of trajectory  , I bet that upgrade is coming soon

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2026-08-27, version 2026.8.19*

This app is a must have for those in areas prone to wildfires. I love that it’s simple yet packs all the information you need into it. Thank you for developing this as a critical tool in keeping the public informed and safer!

### 5/5 — Nice

*2026-08-26, version 2026.8.19*

Great app

### 1/5 — In a crisis

*2026-08-26, version 2026.8.19*

Got a fire about 10 miles from my house was trying to watch it in real time and was told to download this app. It still shows the fire 20 miles away 24 hours later not getting the information we need  I don’t know what happened to this app, but it sure is. He has not been useful.

### 5/5 — Super helpful

*2026-08-26, version 2026.8.19*

Watch Duty is an super useful app.  For those of us living in the western US, fires can happen anywhere at anytime. Watch Duty provides immediate information, updates and helps to prepare for possible disasters headed your way.

### 5/5 — Best Ever

*2026-08-25, version 2026.8.19*

Since inception they have kept me informed immediately, helping me to make critical decisions. A necessary  survival tool after surviving the Calder fire & evacuation!

### 5/5 — Well Worth $24.99 a Year!

*2026-08-25, version 2026.8.19*

This is an app worth supporting!

### 1/5 — No access to pro

*2026-08-25, version 2026.8.12*

I payed for the pro version and was charged but never was given access. Tech support was not helpful. Do not pay for the additional features!

## Frequently asked questions about Watch Duty

### What does Watch Duty do?

Watch Duty provides real-time wildfire mapping and alert services. It is powered by a team of trained professionals, including firefighters and first responders, who monitor radio scanners and other sources to deliver up-to-the-minute information on wildfires, firefighting efforts, and evacuation orders.

### What are the key features of Watch Duty?

Key features include real-time wildfire maps, push notifications for nearby fires, active fire perimeters, wind speed and direction, evacuation orders and shelter information, and an air attack and air tanker flight tracker. It also displays infrared satellite hotspots and allows users to save locations for quick access.

### Is Watch Duty free to use?

Yes, the core service of Watch Duty is free of charge and free of advertising or sponsorship. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they offer an optional $25/year membership that grants access to special features as a token of appreciation for supporters.

### What devices is Watch Duty compatible with?

Based on the provided information, the app is available on Apple devices, as indicated by the reference to Apple's terms of use. Specific compatibility details regarding operating system versions would typically be found on the app store listing.

### How does Watch Duty provide information faster than government alerts?

Watch Duty's advantage lies in its dedicated team of active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders who actively monitor radio scanners and other direct sources around the clock. This human-powered vetting process allows for more immediate updates compared to official government alerts, which can sometimes experience delays.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.8.27 — 2026-09-01

This release includes various improvements and fixes.

### 2026.8.19 — 2026-08-25

This release includes various improvements and fixes.

### 2026.8.12 — 2026-08-18

This release includes various improvements and fixes.

### 2026.8.5 — 2026-08-11

This release includes various improvements and fixes.

### 2026.7.30 — 2026-08-04

This release includes various improvements and fixes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-02.*