Watch Duty, an application designed for tracking wildfires through live maps and alerts, has risen to be the top free app on Apple’s App Store as of Wednesday morning. The wildfire-monitoring app has overtaken the ChatGPT app amidst the ongoing severe fires in Southern California. According to Appfigures, an app intelligence provider, ChatGPT had held the number one position in the U.S. since August 9.
Launched in 2021, Watch Duty is utilized by firefighters and emergency responders throughout the western United States.
The Watch Duty app collects information regarding ongoing wildfires from a network of active and retired firefighters, emergency personnel, official government releases, and vigilant volunteers monitoring radio communications 24/7. Unlike other fire-monitoring applications that depend solely on government notifications, Watch Duty asserts that it offers more immediate data. However, it’s crucial to note that the app is not a substitute for official governmental updates.
By downloading the app, users can view wildfires in their vicinity and receive notifications about nearby fires, evacuation alerts, and ongoing firefighting operations.
The app also allows for checking different regions, which can be especially useful for those with family members in Southern California.
The fire-tracking app surged to the top of the charts on Wednesday morning as over 70,000 residents in and around Los Angeles County faced evacuation orders due to the Palisades Fire near Santa Monica and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena. At the time of writing, the Associated Press reported that the wildfires had resulted in over 1,000 destroyed structures and at least two fatalities. The blazes continue to spread, exacerbated by a severe windstorm with gusts exceeding 100 mph.
“Friends in LA: Download the Watch Duty app to monitor the fire in real-time,” tweeted Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport, on Tuesday. “It’s the official wildfire app used by firefighters in California, featuring detailed real-time updates, video feeds, and evacuation maps.”
The app’s founder and CEO, John Mills, informed The Washington Post earlier this year that he developed Watch Duty after relocating to a fire-sensitive region in Northern California.
Update: This article was originally published on January 8 and updated on January 9 to include the duration of ChatGPT’s top position.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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