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The App That Saved Lives and Brought the Community Together During the LA Wildfires
Shira Lazar
January 15, 2025
Hi friends,
The past 10 days have been a whirlwind—traveling for work has taken me from hosting the Creator Space at CES in Vegas to the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai. Somewhere in between, I managed to get sick (classic travel woes), which made it even harder to sit down, focus, and get this out.
But amidst all of that, being away from the place I’ve called home for over 20 years and watching the devastation from afar has been surreal and heartbreaking. The recent wildfires in LA have left families reeling, destroying homes and upending lives. Whether celebrities or hardworking families and immigrants, no one was spared from the heartbreak.
It’s strange to feel so disconnected, but I just landed after a 24-hour travel day, ready to return to my routine and contribute however I can.
Watch Duty
In the chaos of the wildfires, an app emerged as a lifeline—connecting people and saving lives when they needed it most.
Watch Duty is a free nonprofit app that alerts you about wildfires in real-time. It provided real-time updates, evacuation zones, and safe spaces.
Founded in 2021 by John Mills after nearly losing his home to a wildfire, the app is powered by a team of trained volunteers, including firefighters and first responders, who monitor radio scanners around the clock to deliver accurate, up-to-the-minute updates.
Since its launch, Watch Duty has expanded its coverage to 22 states across the western and central United States and has been downloaded over 7 million times.
During the LA wildfires, the fire-tracking app was downloaded 2 million times and became an indispensable resource during one of the most destructive firestorms in LA's history.
Stories of Resilience and Loss
For the first time in my life, I can’t tell you how many people I personally know who have lost everything at once. The fundraising pages are endless and tell stories that are just devastating.
A long-time creator friend of mine, Blair Imani, shared how generations of her family and community history were wiped out overnight in the Altadena and Pasadena fires. She has multiple fundraising links to support them here.
Creators Colin and Samir both lost their homes, and they have babies on the way. Fellow YouTube stars Dude Perfect set up a GoFundMe for them that has seen overwhelming support.
Another dear friend, Nicole Lapin, who recently welcomed a newborn, had to leave her home in the Palisades with nothing but the clothes on her back. She is now focused on rebuilding her life.
My friend Mike Schibel, host of the Travel With Meaning podcast, shared his parents’ story. They lost everything in the Palisades, but their GoFundMe page is now helping them start over. The same goes for Tommy Sobel who I’ve known for years, who is also navigating the painful process of helping his parents rebuild after losing his childhood home.
Finally, my childhood friend Jordana Levi Berg, whose children attend Village School in Pacific Palisades, is also actively fundraising. The entire school was burnt down in the fires.
And the list goes on and on…
It’s hard to wrap my head around the magnitude of this loss, especially when it hits so close to home. What gives me hope is seeing how we come together for each other—how we show up in times of need. These stories are painful, but they remind me of the power of community and the resilience of the human spirit.
5 Ways You Can Help (Whether You’re in LA or Afar)
Donate to Verified Campaigns Support those directly affected by the wildfires by donating to trusted sources:
Volunteer Your Time If you’re local, consider joining in-person recovery efforts. From distributing supplies to assisting with cleanup, your time can significantly impact. Check local opportunities here.
Amplify Resources: Use your platform to share GoFundMe links, community updates, and mental health resources. Spreading awareness helps ensure support reaches those in need.
Here is a helpful resource on "Where to start after losing your home or business to a wildfire”
Backline is offering mental health resources for musicians in LA
My friend Dr. Raghu and other therapists are offering free mental health services as well.
Support Local Businesses Many small businesses impacted by the fires need help to recover. Look for ways to shop locally, whether online or in-person, to boost their recovery efforts.
Prepare and Advocate If you live in a fire-prone area, ensure your family has an evacuation plan and emergency kit. Additionally, advocate for policies that promote climate change, wildfire prevention and support first responders.
Stay safe and wear a mask: Airnow.gov is a great resource to check air quality in your area. Be sure to keep an N95 mask handy to wear outside. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy.
This crisis showed the power of digital tools and human connection. But at the end of the day, this community continues to inspire me as it shows up and bands together. LA is staying strong!
Finally, many are organizing digital fundraisers to support those in need. I’ll be joining one on LinkedIn this Thursday and collaborating with Brett Claywell and his organization, CMPS, on an upcoming livestream with Tiltify. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved!
I will be back to my regular newsletter next week. In the meantime, stay safe and send some much-needed love to LA. ❤️
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With gratitude,
