See Duty.An app to track wildfires with live maps and alerts became the No. 1 free app in Apple's App Store as of Wednesday morning. As the wildfires continue to rage in Southern California, the fire tracking app has overtaken the ChatGPT app for the #1 spot. ChatGPT has been No. 1 in the US since August 9, according to app intelligence provider Appfigures.
Watch Duty has been around since 2021 and is said to be used by firefighters and first responders across the western United States.
The Watch Duty app is for active and retired firefighters; first responders; Information about active wildfires is extracted from official government reports and a network of volunteer reporters who monitor radio scanners around the clock. While other fire-tracking apps rely only on government alerts, Watch Duty claims to have more real-time information. However, It is important to note that the app is not a substitute for official information.
Downloading the app will show you wildfires in your immediate area, as well as nearby fires. It will alert you to evacuation notices and firefighting efforts.
You can use the app to check in on other locations, which is especially helpful if you have loved ones in Southern California.
A fire tracking app topped the charts Wednesday morning as more than 70,000 people in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate from the Palisades Fire near Santa Monica and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena. The Associated Press reports at the time of writing. The fire destroyed more than 1,000 buildings. At least two people were killed. Wildfires continue to burn due to strong winds, with winds gusting to 100 miles per hour.
“Friends in LA: Download the Watch Duty app to track fires in real-time,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport. Tweet. on Tuesday. “It's the official wildfire app used by California firefighters with real-time updates, video feeds and evacuation maps.”
said John Mills, the app's founder and CEO. The Washington Post I started Watch Duty after moving to a burn-prone area in Northern California earlier this year.
Update: This story was originally published on January 8th and was updated on January 9th to reflect how long ChatGPT has been in the top spot.