Help Protect Communities

From Wherever You Are

Why Volunteer With Watch Duty?

Join a nationwide network of Watch Duty volunteers providing critical support when it matters most.

Every Watch Duty reporter begins as a volunteer contributor, playing a critical role in keeping timely, reliable information flowing during incidents. Volunteers contribute to our 24/7, real-time, human-verified wildfire and flood tracking and are crucial to Watch Duty’s mission-driven, rapid-response alert system.

Our team at Watch Duty makes collaboration feel so seamless. We truly support each other with the common goal of providing accurate information, and as a retired dispatcher, I really value this.”

Mary Clark

Contributor

This team is incredibly supportive. It’s rare to find a group that’s both highly skilled and genuinely eager to help others grow. I’ve felt nothing but welcomed — no gatekeeping, no competition.”

Carl Peterson

Contributor

What Do Our Volunteers Do?

A typical shift as a Watch Duty volunteer may include:

Monitoring radio traffic and official sources

Relaying and reporting on official evacuation orders, closures, and updates

Supporting reporters with real-time verification of information

Collaborating with the team in Slack as incidents evolve

Who Are Our Volunteers?

Our volunteers are united by a shared commitment to public safety, integrity, and teamwork.

Many of our team have experienced evacuations first-hand. Others come from emergency service backgrounds, with experience spanning active wildland firefighters, retired fire personnel, retired dispatchers, emergency responders, journalists, engineers, firefighter family members, and avid radio scanner listeners.

Volunteers play a critical role in keeping timely, reliable information flowing during incidents, contributing to 24/7, real-time, human-verified wildfire and flood tracking. This role is crucial to Watch Duty’s mission-driven, rapid-response alert system.

How it works

Apply

Submit a volunteer application below

Panel Interview

Meet the team

Background Check

Training and onboarding

How we work, what to do, and our Code of Conduct

FAQs

What’s the time commitment?

Volunteers set their own availability

No formal minimum hours

Some contribute occasionally, others more regularly

Collaboration happens in Slack, with optional weekly Zoom meetings

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Do I need experience in firefighting or other technical areas?

Experience with scanner traffic is helpful, but not required. We provide structured training and ongoing learning opportunities. FEMA certifications are encouraged, but optional.

Will I come into an office?

Watch Duty is a fully remote organization, and our volunteers collaborate virtually from their locations around the world.