Ring and Watch Duty Launch New ‘Fire Watch’ Feature to Help Communities Stay Informed During Wildfires 

The feature brings real-time alerts, on-the-ground insights, and community support to fast-moving fire events.

One year after the devastating Los Angeles fires, Ring is introducing Fire Watch, a new safety feature designed to help communities stay informed and respond more quickly during active wildfire and smoke events. 

Built into the Neighbors section of the Ring app, Fire Watch combines the trusted wildfire intelligence of Watch Duty, a non-profit dedicated to humanizing and accelerating emergency information, with on-the-ground perspectives from Ring camera owners to help surface timely, relevant information when every second counts. The feature is designed to deliver early warning signs of fire activity, support first responders with ground truth, and keep neighbors better connected during rapidly changing situations. 

As part of the launch, Ring has also made a $1 million donation to Watch Duty, supporting the nonprofit’s expansion to all 50 states and helping advance real-time fire reporting nationwide. 

A Partnership Rooted in Community 

Fire Watch builds on Watch Duty’s comprehensive fire reporting by enabling Ring customers to play a voluntary, supportive role during wildfire events—sharing visual context from their own neighborhoods when it can be most helpful to the emergency response. 

“Ring began with a single doorbell I built in my garage—one that was sadly lost in the Palisades fire last year,” said Jamie Siminoff, Chief Inventor of Ring. “While that loss is small compared to the devastation experienced by families and the lives lost, it reinforces why this work matters so deeply to me. Partnering with Watch Duty is a meaningful way to honor Ring’s origins and our shared commitment to supporting communities and the first responders who work tirelessly to protect them. The garage may be gone, but the spirit of innovation and neighbor-to-neighbor support that started there is stronger than ever.” 

The launch of Fire Watch coincides with the one-year anniversary of the LA fires, underscoring the growing need for better tools during fast-moving and unpredictable fire events. 

How Fire Watch Works 

Fire Watch includes three components designed to keep customers better informed and safer during wildfire events.

Real-time fire alerts from Watch Duty: When Watch Duty identifies a wildfire, nearby customers receive an alert in the Ring or Neighbors app. Alert zones are based on nearby fires, with an added safety buffer to help ensure notifications are timely and relevant. 

AI-powered smoke and fire detection: For Ring Protect subscribers within an alert zone, outdoor Ring cameras will automatically begin analyzing video for visual signs of smoke or flames. If detected, customers receive an immediate alert so they can quickly assess the situation and take action to help protect their families and property. 

Voluntary community contribution: During an active wildfire, customers inside the alert zone can choose to support first responders and their community by securely sharing snapshots from their Ring cameras with Watch Duty directly through the Ring app. All sharing is optional and controlled by the customer for each fire event.  

Together, these capabilities help deliver early warning signals, improve situational awareness, and bring critical ground truth to those working to protect communities. 

“This partnership with Ring allows us to meet people where they already are, using tools they trust, and extend life-saving wildfire intelligence to more communities than ever before,” said John Mills, Co-founder and CEO of Watch Duty. “That’s how resilience is built—together. One year after the LA fires, the lesson is clear: communities need better tools before disaster strikes. The Fire Watch feature represents what’s possible when we take that responsibility seriously and build the right tools, making them accessible to everyone.” 

Supporting First Responders and Neighbors—Together 

Fire Watch features are designed to complement—not replace—official emergency response systems and traditional fire safety equipment. By combining trusted reporting, AI-powered detection, and voluntary community participation, the feature helps create a more informed and connected response during wildfire events. 

Availability 

Fire Watch features will begin rolling out nationwide this spring. Customers will automatically receive alerts when an active fire event is detected near their home or community. 

To learn more, visit Ring.com.