Watch Duty

As a Public Information Officer and former firefighter and dispatcher, Eric makes sure his community gets the information they need to stay safe. He's also one of the many Watch Duty contributors looking out for you during the wildfires in Colorado. We caught him on the go as he tracks emerging fires in Colorado — monitoring weather forecasts, radio scanners, and official information for developments.

As fires continue to rage across Colorado, Watch Duty reporters are working around the clock to keep you informed. Meet some of them👇 ➡️ Adam started reporting on fires for local Facebook pages after living through the High Park Fire in 2012. He's now the Regional Captain for Colorado, and leads reporting across the state. ➡️ Traci worked as a wildland firefighter for 22 years. She started volunteering with Watch Duty last year and is now a Coverage Reporter. ➡️ Eric joined his local fire department's explorer program at just 14 years old, and began his career as a volunteer firefighter and 911 dispatcher. He now works as a Public Information Officer at Aurora Fire Rescue and volunteers with Watch Duty.

Different disasters, different signals. Our staff meteorologist Pete shares how Watch Duty adapts across flood & wildfire reporting ⬇️

UPDATED: 7/16, 9:30 am CDT ➡️ Multiple flood incidents across South Central Texas are now severe and life-threatening. ➡️ The National Weather Service reports the Guadalupe River at Center Point rose 32 feet in four hours. It's expected to reach the same high point as the July 4, 2025 flood (along the stretch from Center Point through Comfort in Kerr and Kendall Counties). ➡️ We've seen dozens of evacuations and water rescues across Texas Hill Country, with heavy focus in Kerr County, Kendall County, and the City of Uvalde. This is a quickly evolving situation. Download or open the Watch Duty app to track flooding and evacuation resources in your area: lnkd.in/gfN_eurz ————————— ORIGINAL: 7/15, 4pm CDT ➡️ We're seeing severe flooding incidents across South Central Texas. ➡️ Tropical moisture is interacting with other weather elements over South Central Texas, producing anywhere from 3-15 inches of rain. ➡️ This water is flowing down the many washes, creeks, and rivers west of San Antonio leading to life threatening flash flooding and evacuations in several Texas counties. The area remains at high risk throughout Wednesday, and moderate risk for high rainfall Thursday. Download or open the Watch Duty app to track risk in your area: lnkd.in/gfN_eurz

"I realized who was going to solve this problem — it was the same radio operators that I listened to during fires. We were going to band together and build an app." More on building Watch Duty with John Clarke Mills on the What's Your Problem podcast with Jacob Goldstein: lnkd.in/e327W-pG

Spotted in the wild: a USGS streamgage - one key tool for tracking water levels in our rivers and sharing info on flood risk. Update and explore the Watch Duty app to discover all our new flooding features.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, communities like Swannanoa County in North Carolina are at higher risk of wildfire due to resulting damage like downed-timber. Fire, flood, and other disasters are interconnected – learn more about how: https://lnkd.in/efsPn5fm

Wildfire season and flood season used to be divided in the calendar, giving some time to prepare. Fires burned in summer; rains came in winter. That window is narrowing, and we’re seeing a whole new interplay between disasters. Learn more about how fire and flood are connected: lnkd.in/efsPn5fm

Preparedness is not panic. It’s responsibility. John Mills’ story in The Ground We Keep is a powerful reminder that resilience starts before the emergency. Living with wildfire means building systems, caring for land, and facing reality before it takes from us again. Visit @FireSafePeopleTV on YouTube to watch the 9 minute short film here: https://lnkd.in/gVRyhiHU Please like and subscribe to the @FireSafePeopleTV channel to receive the first look at dozens of upcoming shorts. John Clarke Mills, Brian Juhyuk Lee, Max Rudsten, Liz Caselli-Mechael, Kevin Fetterman, Andrew Abranches, Kevin Johnson, Watch Duty, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Orange County Fire Authority, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Ken Pimlott, San Bernardino County, Dan Munsey, MPA, EFO, CFO, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, ALERTCalifornia #WildfirePreparedness #ClimateResilience #LandStewardship #EmergencyPreparedness #DefensibleSpace #WatchDuty #SonomaCounty #TheGroundWeKeep

Storms could be coming into Colorado where wildfires have continued to force evacuations. Will they help or hurt? Watch Duty Staff Meteorologist Pete Curran shares more on what we can expect for fire conditions this week: Weather is changing with high pressure expanding over all of the southwest - that will pull up moist air and potentially introduce thunderstorms. That rain could be helpful for extinguishing fires, but... ➡️ Thunderstorms can bring lightning, and if it strikes outside the rain area that can ignite new fires. ➡️ Downdraft wind can come out of those storms and actually blow the fire beyond its containment area into new areas. ➡️ The Flash Flood Watch in the region is extra concerning - when excessive rainfall hits the same land that's experienced a wildfire, the burn scars mean the ground is less able to absorb water and flooding can turn dangerous, fast. Coloradans, keep Watch Duty handy and notifications on 📲