Help Protect Communities From Wherever You Are

Join a nationwide network of Watch Duty volunteers providing critical support when it matters most.

Volunteer Openings

Why Volunteer With Watch Duty?

Impact

Every reporter begins as a volunteer contributor. Contributors who support behind the scenes play a critical role in keeping timely, reliable information flowing during incidents. Volunteers contribute to our 24/7, real-time, human-verified wildfire and flood tracking and are crucial to Watch Duty’s mission-driven, rapid-response alert system.

What You Will Do

Monitoring radio traffic and official sources

• Relaying and reporting on official evacuation orders, closures, and updates
• Supporting reporters with real-time verification of information
• Collaborating with the team in Slack as incidents evolve

All information is shared and verified in real time using established standards and workflows. And every volunteer follows a strict Code of Conduct to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and trust.

What’s the time commitment?

• Volunteers set their own availability
• No formal minimum hours
• Some contribute occasionally, others more regularly
• Collaboration happens in Slack, with optional weekly Zoom meetings

This team is incredibly supportive. It’s rare to find a group that’s both highly skilled and genuinely eager to help others grow. I’ve felt nothing but welcomed — no gatekeeping, no competition.

- Carl Peterson, Contributor

What Volunteers Do

Retired But Still Serving: Don's Watch Duty Story - YouTube

Retired But Still Serving: Don's Watch Duty Story

“I’m a Translator in a Wildfire” — How Watch Duty Turns Chaos Into Clarity - YouTube

“I’m a Translator in a Wildfire” — How Watch Duty Turns Chaos Into Clarity

Our team at Watch Duty makes collaboration feel so seamless. We truly support each other with the common goal of providing accurate information, and as a retired dispatcher, I really value this.

- Mary Clark, Contributor

Our Volunteers

‍ We are a passionate team who collaborate well under pressure. Many of our team have experienced evacuations due to fast-moving wildfires. Others come from emergency services backgrounds, with team members spanning active wildland firefighters, retired fire personnel, retired dispatchers, other emergency responders, journalists, engineers, firefighter family members, and avid radio scanner listeners who want to ensure their families and neighbors are aware and alerted to dangers.

What unites everyone is a shared commitment to public safety, integrity, and teamwork.

How it works

1. Apply

Submit a volunteer application below

2. Panel interview

Meet the team

3. Background check

Submit a volunteer application

4. Training and onboarding

How we work, what to do, and what not to, report on

Experience with scanner traffic is helpful, but not required. We provide structured training and ongoing learning opportunities. FEMA certifications are encouraged, but optional.

I am grateful to be part of such an incredible team, and look forward to contributing wherever I am needed.

- Shannon Nazarenus, Coverage Reporter

Current openings at Watch Duty

Contributing & Reporting