Helpful Apps for Staying Safe During Wildfire Season

NEW: LA County now has preliminary maps that let you look up a home by address to see if it was damaged.

Eaton Fire: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire/

Palisades Fire: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/

The Watch Duty app has become an indispensable resource during these wildfires, providing real-time alerts and updates about fire activity. But I wanted to know—what other apps are helping folks navigate these tough times? I asked on my social media, and here’s some of what you shared:

PulsePoint

Think of PulsePoint as a 911-connected app for real-time incident updates. Unlike Citizen, PulsePoint links directly with first responders, offering accurate information about emergencies in your area. One standout feature is its CPR notification system: if someone nearby needs lifesaving assistance and you’re trained in CPR, you’ll get a ping to help.

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Frontline Wildfire Defense

This app is all about customized wildfire alerts tailored to your home address. It sends everything from Red Flag Warnings to evacuation notices and even Fire Weather Watches. What makes it extra useful is its step-by-step evacuation instructions and the ability to create a group for loved ones to check in or meet up during an emergency.

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Augurisk

Augurisk isn’t just about wildfires—it’s a comprehensive tool for assessing risk at your home address. From natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes to factors like crime rates and air quality, this site delivers a detailed report on all the risks near you. Just type in your address and toggle the detailed view for even more insights. It’s a must-use for anyone looking to understand the big picture.

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Air Quality Monitoring Tools

When wildfires strike, air quality is a major concern. Here are some of the top tools you can use:

• AirNow: Provides official AQI (Air Quality Index) numbers directly from government sources.

• PurpleAir: Crowdsources air quality data using internet-connected sensors.

• Google Maps Air Quality Layer: Just open Google Maps, tap the layers icon in upper right hand corner and toggle on the air quality layer to see AQI readings in your area.

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Watch Duty

Watch Duty is a free emergency alert app that operates in 22 states, including California. It provides real-time updates on new wildfires, tracks their spread, and continues monitoring until the threat is resolved.

The app has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few weeks, and for good reason.

Here’s what sets it apart: the app is powered by a dedicated team of active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, first responders, and radio enthusiasts who keep the information accurate and up-to-date.

In the past week alone:

• Watch Duty added 2 million new downloads.

• Sent over 220 million push notifications to users in Southern California.

The app’s founder was inspired to create it after experiencing his own wildfire evacuation in Sonoma County.

I spoke with Nick Russell, VP of Operations, on my radio show this weekend to dive into how it works. Listen to my entire interview here: