Since Jan. 7, a series of wildfires have devastated the greater Los Angeles area, but amid the crisis, an unlikely hero emerged in the form of a free app from the nonprofit organization Watch Duty.
Launched in 2021, Watch Duty provides real-time information about fires, including live maps, evacuation information, and updates on firefighting efforts. It employs a community-driven model that is supported by around 200 volunteers and a small team of full-time employees — including firefighters and first responders — which allows it to deliver more current updates than other notification services. The app has received significant press coverage, including a New York Times article that described it as “a lifeline in tracking the multiple wildfires blazing around (LA).”
At the heart of this project is Gabe Schine ’05, a principal engineer at Watch Duty, who originally joined the organization early on as a volunteer. Schine, a software engineer who moonlights as a firefighter and EMT, currently resides in Middlebury, Vermont. We asked him about Watch Duty’s mission, its impact during the ongoing wildfires, and how his experiences at Kenyon and as a firefighter have helped shape his career.
This conversation was edited for length and clarity.
Tell us about the founding story of Watch Duty, and how you became involved with the app.
Watch Duty was founded in 2021 to solve a very real problem that many Californians face. During fires, it used to be incredibly difficult to get reliable, real-time information. People would see smoke or fire trucks but essentially had no idea what was happening until they were told to evacuate. That’s terrifying.
Our co-founder and CEO John Mills experienced this several times first-hand and turned to social media, where individuals were already sharing updates by monitoring radio scanners. He thought, “What if we could centralize this and make it accessible to everyone?” He connected with these individuals and asked, “If I built a platform, what would you want it to look like?” That’s how Watch Duty was born.
I joined a few months later. At the time, I was working on a different app related to firefighting. A mutual friend connected me with the team, and I immediately saw the potential. I knew I wanted to be part of it.
And now you’re working full-time with Watch Duty?
Yes. Initially, the organization was entirely volunteer-based. I was working at Google then (as a software engineer), and I used to joke with my wife (Casey Smith Schine ’06), “If Watch Duty ever pays me, I’ll work there full-time.” In the spring, the CEO called me and said, “We’re getting a grant. Let’s talk.” That’s how I transitioned to working here full-time. It was a big shift, but the timing was perfect.
I went from working on a team of 400 people at a for-profit company to a nonprofit with a team of about four. But it was refreshing. Profit isn’t part of the conversation at Watch Duty. That lets us focus solely on solving the problem — helping people stay informed and safe during disasters.
Speaking of disasters, how has Watch Duty been used during the recent California wildfires? Do you have any specific stories about how it’s impacted people?
Our app helps people make critical decisions like, “Do I stay or do I go?” For example, if someone has pets or mobility challenges, they can use the app to get earlier warnings and prepare accordingly. Firefighters also use our app for situational awareness, which was an unexpected but rewarding outcome.
The Los Angeles fires brought in more traffic than we’ve ever seen. In one week, we served 8 million users. Our peak traffic during that time was 3 million requests in one minute (that’s 50,000 per second), and we had no downtime, which I’m really proud of. We’ve designed the system to scale and handle surges like this.
You’re also a firefighter. How does that experience influence your work with Watch Duty?
I was a volunteer firefighter in California for five years before moving to Vermont, where I continued. The interest started after college when I joined emergency response teams at various companies, especially Google, which gave me a taste of emergency response. After moving to the mountains near the California coast, I joined a local department that was recruiting. It was my first real experience with public service, and I loved it. The skills you learn are fascinating, and you make a real difference in people’s lives, especially on their worst days.
My firefighting experience, particularly with major California fires, brings a unique perspective to the tech side. I can help the organization understand what firefighters truly need versus what they don’t need, how to distill information to the essentials, and eliminate noise. In many ways, I’m creating what I wish I’d had for myself in the field, which makes it very satisfying.
Given that one-third of homes in the U.S. are currently in counties with a high risk of fires, what can the average person do to prepare right now in addition to downloading Watch Duty?
Readyforwildfire.org is a great resource where you can learn about how to prepare yourself and your home. If it ever comes time to evacuate, I understand why people might want to stay. I’ve been there, and I remember feeling a strong urge to stay and protect my home. Just remember that a single person staying behind whose life then becomes threatened will divert multiple firefighting resources. Firefighters are tasked with protecting life, property and the environment, in that order. They are willing to risk a lot to save a life. If they are rescuing you, they will put themselves at greater risk and will no longer be able to defend the neighborhood.
How did your time at Kenyon influence your career path?
At Kenyon, I was part of the synoptic major program, which allowed me to design my own course of study in complex systems theory. That interdisciplinary approach taught me it’s okay to cross boundaries to solve problems. My advisor, philosophy professor Joel Richeimer, played a huge role in shaping that mindset. He encouraged me to pursue my interests, even when they didn’t fit neatly into one discipline.
What advice would you give Kenyon students interested in pursuing a similar line of work?
This is what we do at liberal arts colleges: find a problem you care about and try to solve it — and don’t give up too easily.
Also, you can’t do anything great alone. That’s the biggest thing I had to learn in my career. Starting off as a software engineer, I hadn’t understood the importance of teamwork. After joining teams and seeing the complexity of solving problems, I learned that if you want to progress in your career and solve bigger problems, you’ve got to learn how to do it with other people.