Volunteer Contributor/ Reporter
Volunteer Remote Position
Watch Duty is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that provides real-time public-safety information during emergencies. Our mission is to publish verified, factual information that gives communities true situational awareness when it matters most. Volunteers are central to this work.
About the role
Volunteer Contributors and Reporters help gather, verify, and synthesize information related to active wildfires. This includes monitoring multiple sources such as scanner traffic, fire cameras, official agency updates, user-submitted intel, and automated detections within Watch Duty.
Working alongside other reporters in real time, you’ll help confirm details and craft clear, accurate alerts that reach millions of people during critical moments. Training, guidelines, and ongoing support are provided, and most volunteers grow into the role over time.
What we’re looking for
- A strong sense of responsibility and community service
- The ability to remain calm, focused, and detail-oriented in fast-moving situations
- Comfort collaborating in real time via Slack (our internal messaging platform)
- Willingness to learn and follow structured reporting guidelines
Helpful experience (not required)
- Prior experience listening to or monitoring emergency communications
- Background in fire, dispatch, law enforcement, or emergency response
- Experience sharing time-sensitive information with a public audience (e.g., social media, community groups)
- Familiarity with radio scanners, mapping tools, or technical systems
- FEMA ICS Courses
- Willingness to assist with coverage beyond your immediate local area when needed
- Basic comfort with technology, including using email, Slack, and web-based tools, as well as the ability to follow login and setup instructions independently.
Most volunteers contribute a few hours per week, with flexibility depending on availability and incident activity.
If you apply, please add recruiting@watchduty.org to your spam filter, to ensure you receive messages from us about scheduling interviews and other follow up.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Watch Duty is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.
As published by greenhouse
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV
- Are you at least 18 years of age? choose one
- Why do you want to join Watch Duty, and what makes you a good fit for this role? written answer
- Do you actively listen to firefighter scanner traffic? choose one
- If you do listen to radio traffic, in what area? written answer
- Which best describes your experience in emergency or disaster response? choose any
- Do you have experience supporting disaster response as a radio operator or through community information platforms (e.g., social media, scanners, community networks)? choose any
- Do you maintain a social media presence dedicated to informing the public about emergent situations? If yes, please share the page choose one
- What State(s) are you interested in covering or have knowledge of? choose any
- What is your weekly estimated time commitment April-October? written answer
- What time of day are you generally available? (Select all that apply; in your local time) choose any · optional