California now has its own version of Watch Duty’s fire-tracking app.
AwareCA provides emergency maps and alerts like Watch Duty, but directly from public safety agencies. The LA Times reports the app addresses fire officials’ “uneasiness” with Watch Duty, with Cal Fire’s David Acuña saying, with AwareCA “you’re not relying on, ‘Well, what did I hear on that really static-y radio?’” [Link: Cal Fire has a new app. It looks a lot like Watch Duty | https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-10-30/why-cal-fire-made-watch-duty-competitor | Los Angeles Times]
