Mobones

BAE 146-200 landing at #reddingairattackbase with a building pyrocumulus cloud from the #deltafire in the background. #cafire #CAwx #bae146200 #neptuneaviation

David Billstrom is a Watch Duty reporter in Western North Carolina, where Watch Duty started reporting on wildfires last year. He's also a firefighter, EMT, ham radio operator, and 911 radio system designer with 40+ years in emergency services. By day, he's led tech companies and startups. But his calling has always been serving his community when disaster strikes. It's that experience that informs his real-time collaboration covering events like this vegetation fire in Buncombe County, North Carolina. "I'd still rather be driving a fire truck, but serving as a reporter for Watch Duty is a close second."

Please join us in welcoming Forestry Fire Pilots Kevin Lindley and Seth Rauch to the Tehama-Glenn Unit. Kevin and Seth both started this week and are assigned to Vina Helitack Base. #CALFIRETGU2026

Here's what the latest collaboration from @Ring & Watch Duty will include:

⚠️ WARNING: 4 to 6 FEET of snow targeting Mono County, CA! ❄️ Wind gusts hitting 100 MPH on ridges. This isn't just a storm—it's a mountain burial. Travel on US-395 is extremely dangerous. Prepare for whiteout conditions and road closures. #CAwx #Snow

⚠️ CALIFORNIA ALERT: "Loaded gun" scenario unfolding for the Bay Area & Sierra Foothills! 🚨 Rain rates hitting 1"/hr on saturated ground = FLASH FLOODING & MUDSLIDES likely. Rotation tracked near Santa Cruz, CA. This is a dangerous setup. Turn around, don't drown! #CAwx

Watch Duty turns radio chatter and AI fire cams into life-saving intelligence

Introducing personalized alerts for Wind, Humidity, Air Quality (AQI), and more! Instead of periodically checking your phone or staring at a computer screen for changes in wind, relative humidity, or air quality, you can now set your own custom thresholds to have alerts sent directly to you. 💨 Want to know when the wind gusts over 50 MPH on the nearest peak? Turn on the Weather Stations map layer and then select a station and set up your own alerts. 😷 Want to know when AQI crosses 150? Turn on the Air Quality Index (AQI) map layer and then select any @PurpleAir sensor to set up notifications for that sensor. We hope that this provides even more situational awareness to you, your loved ones, and the first responder community.

Our COO, Nick Russell, joined @ButteSheriff Kory Honea on his podcast to talk about Watch Duty’s operations and how we partner with law enforcement and emergency managers. youtu.be/SXgXXK4D69c Behind the app is a 300-person operation working around the clock because every second counts when wildfire threatens your community. Sheriff Honea knows better than most the urgency of fast-moving fires, and we’re honored not only to learn from him, but also to call him a friend and partner.

"Former Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott told KPBS he believes Watch Duty is here to stay — and its role will only grow over time. [He] encouraged fire agencies to see Watch Duty as a valuable partner in the effort to keep people safe during fires. 'If I've seen anything have the single greatest impact on engaging the public (during) wildfires, this is the tool that's done it,' said Pimlott, whose firefighting career spanned more than 30 years. 'Watch Duty has really found a niche that, honestly, needed to be filled as the fire problem continues to grow across the Western United States.' Pimlott confirmed its widespread use among professionals." kpbs.org/news/public-sa…

I am so pissed right now. The historic Lodge of North Rim of the Grand Canyon and multiple other structures has burned. On July 3 a dry storm swept the area. A Lightening strike started a wildfire. Based on an old idea the National Park let the fire burn “for resource benefit. Weather got worse, help was not available, they switched to full suppression tactics, fire grew, eventually last night 7/13/25 at 0300 the fire over ran the village, water treatment plant, gas station, employee housing, and the lodge. I am so angry. I lived wildland fire. I have seen the feds do this since 1967 on my first large fire, and many times throughout my career. We should never let a fire in the western US burn for resource benefit in July. No local or state agency handles fires as poorly as the federal government.

We are truly honored to be named one of @TIME’s Most Influential Companies of 2025 for our work during California’s historic Palisades and Eaton Fires. The outpouring of support and praise for our work is humbling—but make no mistake, awards are not why we do this. We do this because we have to. We do this for you, for us, our families, our neighbors, our communities, and our first responders who risk their lives for ours. We do this because these fires that are ripping through our towns show no signs of letting up. But neither are we. All of this recognition we are receiving is not just overwhelming – it’s foreign to us. We don’t hold advanced degrees from prestigious schools. We didn’t chase fancy jobs to drive fancy cars. We’ve never had much interest in the status quo — and it’s no surprise that most of us didn’t grow up doing what we were told. But what we do have is heart. And grit. And the unshakable belief that service comes before self. We make deals on a handshake. And our word is our bond. We are radio operators, engineers, firefighters, dispatchers, geeks, ranchers, and farmers. We are the most unlikely of folk to do something like this which makes it that much more special. But we’re not alone. With that, we’d like to dedicate this award to you — the people like us — the misfits, the hackers, the weirdos, the non-obvious, and the rebels. The ones who know that the status quo is broken and wake up every day to fight to change it. We see you. We are you. We are proof that sometimes it's the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.

Today is World Superhero Day — and at Watch Duty, we know exactly who the real superheroes are — firefighters, dispatchers, first responders, and emergency managers. You don't wear capes — you wear turnouts, headsets, and radios — and you show up when it matters most. You risk everything to protect our communities and we see you, we honor you, and we thank you. You are the heart of Watch Duty and the reason we do what we do. Thank you for being the everyday heroes we can always count on. #WorldSuperheroDay

I’m so humbled and great full to be part of this amazing team #greatful #teamplayer

#RX #goodfire

@rebilasphoto @OC_Scanner @DAYTONA 🇺🇸❤️

The US Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the start of the NASCAR #DAYTONA500 at @DAYTONA 📸 @rebilasphoto

When Regrid spent a year tracking structure fires in Detroit, we saw firsthand how vital accurate parcel data is for fire response. We're proud to support @watchdutyapp with parcel data everywhere they operate in the United States. #FireResponse #ParcelData #WildfireAlert

Did you know that we have deployed three new fire cameras this winter? The Halls Ridge, Lenhart Butte, and Shaniko cameras give firefighters another tool to detect and monitor wildfires on both sides of the Cascades. Watch live on the @ALERTWestCams site and the @watchdutyapp.

@WeatherNation Yes I took it , and yes you can use it with credit.

@mofilly Oh wow, that's crazy! Did you film this? If so, may WeatherNation have permission to show your video on-air/online with full credit to you?

Sacramento River this morning in Red Bluff - currently under a Flood Warning #cawx #tehamacounty

@tehamacospotter I read about the rescue in Palo Cedro last night! Spider Island had rescues too. It’s got close to E’s Locker this morning.

@mofilly Thanks for sharing. I didn't have time to drive the other areas this morning. Most of the water is coming from the Cow Creek. They had some significant water up there last night...