Volunteer Reporter

NWTT Desk Contributor/ Reporter

About us

National Wildfire Tracking Team (NWTT) is a non-profit, non-partisan public safety information and situational awareness organization focused on wildfires, severe weather, and disaster events across the United States. Our mission is to deliver timely, verified, and actionable information that helps communities, responders, and decision-makers understand developing incidents in real time. Volunteers are a critical part of this mission.

About the Role

NWTT Volunteer Contributors and Remote Reporters assist with gathering, verifying, and synthesizing information related to active wildfires and other major incidents.

This includes monitoring multiple information streams such as:

• Radio scanner traffic
• Fire and traffic cameras
• Official agency alerts and incident updates
• Public and user-submitted intelligence
• Satellite, detection, and automated alert systems
• Weather and fire behavior indicators

Working alongside NWTT reporters and intelligence staff in real time, you will help confirm details, identify emerging risks, and help craft clear, accurate public alerts that may reach large audiences during critical moments.

Training, reporting guidelines, and ongoing mentorship are provided.

Most volunteers build confidence and responsibility in the role over time.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong sense of public service and mission focus
• Ability to stay calm, focused, and detail-oriented in fast-moving incidents
• Comfortable collaborating in real time using Slack or similar platforms
• Willingness to follow structured reporting and verification standards
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally

Helpful Experience (Not Required)

• Monitoring or working with emergency communications
• Background in fire service, dispatch, law enforcement, emergency management, or response operations
• Experience sharing time-sensitive public information (news, social media, community alerts)
• Familiarity with radio scanners, mapping platforms, or technical monitoring tools
• FEMA ICS coursework (ICS-100, 200, 700, etc.)
• Willingness to support incident coverage outside your immediate local area when needed

Time Commitment

Most volunteers contribute a few hours per week, with flexibility based on availability and incident activity levels.