Wildfires are a constant threat in California, especially in Monterey County. Traditional emergency alert systems can sometimes be delayed—but there’s a new way to stay ahead of danger: the Watch Duty app.
Watch Duty is a nonprofit-funded wildfire alert app that delivers live updates on nearby fires, evacuation notices, containment progress, and changing conditions—faster and more locally focused than many other systems.
Why Watch Duty Matters
Staffed by experienced fire reporters, dispatchers, and journalists, Watch Duty pulls real-time information from:
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Scanner traffic
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Satellite fire maps
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Direct field observations
It’s become an essential tool for California residents. During just the first two days of the Palisades and Eaton fires, nearly 1.4 million people turned to Watch Duty for updates.
App Features
📍 Map-based Interface
Wildfires are shown on an interactive map with clickable icons that provide timestamped updates and situational reports.
🔔 Push Notifications by County
You can opt in to receive notifications specifically for Monterey County—ideal for staying informed about local threats.
💰 Free to Use
Watch Duty is free, with optional memberships:
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Basic – $24.99/year
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Pro – $99.99/year
(Paid tiers offer enhanced features like advanced mapping layers.)
How to Set Up Watch Duty Alerts (English)
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Download the app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
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Tap the 3-bar menu icon (top left) > Settings > Notifications.
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Select Monterey County.
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Choose Updates > All Notifications to receive comprehensive alerts.
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Optional: Enable Include Silent Incidents to be notified of all local fires.
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Tap the Layers icon (top right) to choose map views and features:
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General: Fire perimeters, satellite hotspots, flight tracker, live fire cameras, outages
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Weather: Red flag warnings, surface wind, air quality
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Professional (Pro only): Critical infrastructure, ownership, evacuation zones
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💻 Desktop Users: Visit FABS911.org to view the Watch Duty wildfire map online for Big Sur, CA.
📲 Cómo configurar Watch Duty en español
Estimados vecinos:
La aplicación gratuita Watch Duty ofrece alertas críticas y en tiempo real sobre incendios forestales en el Condado de Monterey.
Pasos para configurar la aplicación:
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Descargue Watch Duty desde la App Store o Google Play.
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Abra la app y toque el ícono de menú (3 líneas) > Ajustes > Notificaciones.
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Seleccione el Condado de Monterey.
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Elija Todas las notificaciones para recibir alertas completas.
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Opcional: Marque Incluir incidentes silenciosos para recibir avisos de todos los incendios.
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Toque el ícono de Capas (arriba a la derecha) y active las funciones de su preferencia:
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General: Perímetros de incendios, puntos calientes, rastreador de vuelos, cámaras en vivo
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Meteorología: Direcciones del viento, calidad del aire, alertas de bandera roja
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Profesional: Infraestructura crítica, zonas de evacuación, jurisdicciones (requiere membresía)
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💻 Visite FABS911.org para ver el mapa desde su computadora.
Empower Your Household with Preparedness
CERV encourages all Monterey County residents to download Watch Duty and set up notifications today. Being prepared saves lives—and this tool gives you the edge when every minute counts.
If you need help installing the app or want to learn more about CERT training in your neighborhood, contact us directly or join our next volunteer meeting.
📱 Download Watch Duty now:
