Watch Duty: Lifesaver from the Digital Cloud

Amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, the innovative fire-tracking app Watch Duty has gained significant importance and established itself as an essential source of information for affected residents. The app, which relies on a network of active and former firefighters, first responders, official government reports, and volunteer reporters, provides real-time updates on current fire outbreaks. This week, as official warning systems were sometimes unreliable, Watch Duty rose to the top of the popularity charts in the Apple App Store. In an interview with the New York Times, CEO John Mills announced that the app had been downloaded two million times since Tuesday and visited by 14 million users this week. Mills emphasized that the app is operated by a non-profit organization, primarily funded by donations, with a team of 15 full-time and 200 volunteer employees. He also assured that the app collects minimal personal user data and that he has no intention of selling it. "I have a responsibility to my community and I'm not a disaster capitalist," Mills said.