How we built Watch Duty, the lifesaving wildfire alert app

Name: How we built Watch Duty, the lifesaving wildfire alert app
Uploaded: 2025-12-03T15:42:15Z
Duration: 5 min 33 s
Description: After finding himself alone in an unreported wildfire in the woodlands of California, John Mills decided to take matters into his own hands. Hear the incredible story of how he rallied fire survivors and retired first responders to create Watch Duty, the nonprofit emergency alert system that’s beating official government warnings and buying people precious minutes to escape danger.

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John Mills |

TEDNext 2025

• November 2025

After finding himself alone in an unreported wildfire in the woodlands of California, John Mills decided to take matters into his own hands. Hear the incredible story of how he rallied fire survivors and retired first responders to create Watch Duty, the nonprofit emergency alert system that’s beating official government warnings and buying people precious minutes to escape danger.