NFT-powered wildfire response, built for real-world impact
- ClientFirewatch
- IndustryNon-Profit & Institutional
- ServicesTechnology
- CapabilitiesPlatform.sh
How Firewatch turns NFTs into wildfire prevention
California wildfires are escalating, with millions of acres burned across 2020 and 2024. The crisis continues to intensify, underscoring the urgent need for action.
To help address this growing crisis, Code and Theory built and launched FIREWATCH, a first-of-its-kind Web3 platform designed to support wildfire prevention.
Continue reading to see how the experience uses NFTs to mobilize participation and how the platform was brought to life end to end.
Key Takeaways
Firewatch uses Web3 to raise funds and coordinate wildfire response efforts in California.
Participation ties supporters to the mission and helps sustain ongoing engagement over time.
The platform emphasizes sustainability by building on an eco-friendly blockchain foundation.
Raised funds go toward on-the-ground California wildfire protection and prevention support.
Fully Carbon Offset with Solana
NFTs have a bad reputation. Some transactions use over 340 kilowatt-hours of energy (which is more than 1/3 of the typical American home per month). In the spirit of combating climate change, we minted exclusively on Solana, an eco-friendly blockchain that ensured every NFT purchase was carbon offset.
Sustainable Web3 Meets Climate Relief
FIREWATCH transforms the California map into 1004 NFTs, each representing a 16x16 square mile footprint of the state. Every NFT purchase directly funds wildfire protection efforts — from fuel reduction to reforestation and wildlife protection — through our non-profit partner, One Tree Planted.
Firewatch set out to turn NFT participation into tangible climate relief by channeling attention and funding toward California wildfire response. To make that mission repeatable and scalable, the project needed more than a one-off drop—it needed a durable Web3 experience that could be reused and extended over time.
FIREWATCH delivered that execution through reusable IP and a custom Web3 platform experience, enabling the project to consistently activate supporters, run future NFT initiatives, and keep the mission focused on fighting California wildfires.
Technology Crafted for Speed and Scale
Listen to our lead staff architect share the technology strategy and execution that fueled FIREWATCH. Most NFT projects are essentially digital storefronts, but FIREWATCH is an immersive, web3 experience that leverages renderings from Google Maps, NASA imagery, California’s diverse habitat topography, and CalFire’s open data API—all expressed in a web3 application.
Guided by a technology strategy that combines Web3 infrastructure with NFT-driven engagement, Firewatch turns digital participation into real-world support for wildfire response in California. The video highlights the outcomes of this approach and what it enabled for the platform and its community.
“Only in America can you adopt a highway, but not a forest. Until now.”
What We Did
Shipped an NFT-based fundraising mechanism directing proceeds to California wildfire prevention and response
Built a Web3 platform experience for minting, managing, and showcasing Firewatch NFTs
Implemented on-chain transparency to track NFT ownership and fund flows tied to wildfire support
Delivered community engagement features connecting NFT holders to updates and impact around California wildfires
Firewatch: Web3 and NFTs for California wildfire response
Firewatch brings together Web3 and NFTs in service of a clear mission: helping fight California wildfires. The work centers on building a platform that connects digital ownership to real-world impact without losing sight of the cause. It’s a focused example of how emerging technology can be applied to a specific, urgent problem.
The result is a case study grounded in purpose and practicality. By framing the platform around wildfire response, Firewatch keeps the experience focused on outcomes beyond the technology itself. It positions NFTs as a way for people to participate and support the cause, not just speculate.
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newbiz@codeandtheory.comCode and Theory is a proud member of Stagwell Group. Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com
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