Report updated Apr 6, 2026
Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps
v2026.3.26Residents in wildfire-prone areas, first responders, and community members requiring immediate situational awareness during fire emergencies.
What Is Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps?
Launched Aug 3, 2021
Updated Mar 2026
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
Wildfire information verified by professional firefighters and dispatchers rather than robots.
Real-time monitoring of active fire perimeters and firefighting progress.
Real-time tracking of firefighting aircraft flight paths.
Visualization of infrared satellite hotspots using VIIRS and MODIS data.
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a thrilled sentiment. Users appreciate life-saving utility and accurate and timely information, but report sync and update issues and ui/ux interaction bugs.”
What Users Love
It saves life's.
Watch Duty notified us the second the fire started.
The reports, alerts, updates, and information are timely and reliable.
Fastest notifier out of any news org or app.
Pain Points
The app updated once and hasn’t updated for 20 hours.
It all of a sudden stopped giving me notifications.
You have to press real hard on it multiple times.
Not seeing the location details on the map.
High confidence · 47.4K reviews available
How is it ranked?
| Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Free | #11 | ▼4 |
| Grossing | #25 | ▼5 |
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Human-in-the-loop verification model
- Non-profit status builds high community trust
- Unique air tanker tracking capabilities
- Exceptional 4.9-star user rating
Cons
- Occasional data synchronization delays
- Map interaction UI bugs
- Potential scalability limits of human vetting
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- International expansion to other fire-prone regions
- Deeper integration with local emergency services
- Exploiting the latency gap in official government apps
Market Threats
- Improvement of official government app technology
- Commercial weather apps adding human-vetted layers
- Regulatory or cost changes to public data/radio feeds
Who competes with Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps?
The Nemesis
Why it's a threat
- +
Hyper-local Rain Alerts
- +
Professional Radar Pack
Contenders
Emergency: Severe Weather App
American Red Cross
A high-trust alternative for multi-hazard alerts with a dedicated and robust wildfire tracking module.
A high-trust alternative for multi-hazard alerts with a dedicated and robust wildfire tracking module.
Windy.com
Windyty, SE
Used by professionals and enthusiasts for high-resolution wind and fire intensity overlays to predict fire behavior.
Used by professionals and enthusiasts for high-resolution wind and fire intensity overlays to predict fire behavior.
Peers
Citizen Jackpot Slots Casino
Seven Slots Technology Limited
Competes for the 'real-time emergency alert' user, often reporting on fires via user-generated content and scanners.
Competes for the 'real-time emergency alert' user, often reporting on fires via user-generated content and scanners.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The official source for federal disaster declarations and shelter information during major wildfire events.
The official source for federal disaster declarations and shelter information during major wildfire events.
IQAir AirVisual | Air Quality
IQAir AG
Essential companion app for wildfire users to track smoke impact and air quality in real-time.
Essential companion app for wildfire users to track smoke impact and air quality in real-time.
New Kids on the Block
PulsePoint Respond
PulsePoint Foundation
Growing rapidly as a tool for real-time emergency dispatch awareness, including fire department responses.
Growing rapidly as a tool for real-time emergency dispatch awareness, including fire department responses.
What are the key takeaways?
Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps is a thrilling news app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.9/5 rating from 47.4K reviews, it thrills its users from users. Users particularly appreciate life-saving utility, though sync and update issues remains a common concern.
Best for: Residents in wildfire-prone areas, first responders, and community members requiring immediate situational awareness during fire emergencies.
How much does it cost?
Model: freemium
The monetization is donation-driven, emphasizing public safety and trust over profit, which serves as a powerful brand-building tool.
iOS Version
2026.3.26
Android Version
2026.3.26
Release Date
Aug 3, 2021
iOS Price
Free
Android Price
Free
Developer
Sherwood Forestry Service, Inc.