Fire Watch
Fire watch is a dedicated patrol of a building or area by specially trained personnel whose only job is to look for fire, smoke, fire hazards, raise the alarm and help people get to safety when a building’s fire protection systems are not functioning or when work creates an elevated fire risk. Fire codes and local fire officials commonly require a fire watch when a sprinkler system or fire alarm is impaired, during hot work such as welding or cutting, and at particular construction sites and events. Guard Services USA provides fire watch officers on short notice across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. We ensure that a system outage does not disrupt your business.
855-843-8900
What Fire Watch Officers Do
Our Skills
Fire watch is different from general security. The officer’s attention is on fire safety, not on theft or access control. Typical duties include:
- Patrolling every affected area on a set schedule, often at fixed intervals required by the fire official
- Looking for smoke, fire, heat, sparks and fire hazards
- Checking that exits, exit paths and fire doors are clear and able to be easily opened
- Confirming that fire extinguishers are present and accessible
- Immediately contacting the fire department if a fire is discovered
- Alerting occupants and assisting them with evacuation
- Keeping a written fire watch log with the time and findings of every round
- Making the log available to the fire marshal or inspector on request
The log matters. If an inspector arrives, a complete, accurate record of every round is how you demonstrate that the fire watch was performed.
How Fire Watch Differs From Other Security Coverage
A general security officer is focused on people and property. A fire watch officer is strictly focused on fire. A mobile patrol officer may check a number of sites, where as it is imperative that a fire watch officer remains within a single building or area. Here is how fire watch compares with the other services we provide.
How our coverage types compare
| Coverage type | Primary focus | Carries a firearm | Arrest authority | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | Deterrence, access control, customer service, and reporting at one post | No | Limited. The same as a private citizen in most states | Retail, offices, healthcare, residential, and most commercial sites | Standard |
| Armed officer | Everything an unarmed officer does, plus readiness to meet a violent threat | Yes, with state firearms licensing | Limited. The same as a private citizen in most states | Banks, cash handling, high-value inventory, sites with a robbery history | Higher |
| Off-duty police officer | Uniformed police presence, traffic control, and high-risk response | Yes, a department issued firearm | Sworn law enforcement authority, within department rules | Highest-risk sites, traffic control, large public events | Highest. It may include department fees |
| Mobile patrol | Scheduled or randomized checks across several sites, lockups, and alarm response | Varies by program | Limited. The same as a private citizen in most states | After-hours checks, vacant properties, construction sites, communities | Lower. Billed by visit or route |
| Fire watch | Patrolling for fire and fire hazards, keeping a log, alerting occupants and the fire department | No | No enforcement role. Their presence is to raise the alarm | Sprinkler or alarm outages, hot work, construction, required event standby | Hourly, until the system is restored |
Arrest authority, firearms licensing, and fire watch requirements vary by state, local jurisdiction, and police department policy.
Some clients ask whether their existing security officer can also handle fire watch. In some cases, this is possible, however the fire official may require a dedicated person whose sole duty is fire watch. Always confirm with your local authority regarding jurisdictional requirements before combining roles.
When You May Need a Fire Watch
01
Sprinkler system impairment
Repairs, inspections, freeze damage or a failed component.
02
Fire alarm outage
A panel failure, power issue or system upgrade.
03
Hot work
Welding, cutting, brazing, or grinding in or near occupied space.
04
Construction and renovation
Especially where fire protection systems are not yet active.
05
Events
Large gatherings where the fire official requires standby personnel.
06
Fire marshal order
A direct requirement after an inspection.
The specific requirements, such as how often rounds must be made and who can perform them, are set by your local fire code and the fire official. We will always adhere to the requirements that you are provided with.
Fire Watch on Short Notice
Fire protection systems rarely fail on a convenient schedule. Invariably a sprinkler line will freeze overnight, an alarm panel goes down on a holiday weekend, or an inspector issues a fire watch order at 4 p.m. on a Friday. Without a fire watch guard on site, you may be told to close your business.
Our dispatch team handles urgent fire watch requests and endeavors to get officers on site as quickly as possible. We maintain 99%+ same-day shift fulfillment, whilst we can keep coverage in place around the clock until your system is restored and cleared.
Fire Watch for Large Events and Peak Periods
Retail stores running Black Friday or holiday events, venues hosting large crowds and properties under renovation during a busy season face more people with additional risk at the same time. If a fire protection system is impaired during one of these periods or the fire official requires standby personnel for an event, we can add fire watch officers alongside your regular security coverage.
How Guard Services USA Runs Fire Watch
01
Clear instructions
We confirm the affected areas, monitoring round frequency and reporting requirements before the first shift.
02
Documented rounds
Officers keep a written log of every round, available to you and the fire official.
03
Emergency procedures
Officers know your evacuation routes, assembly points and emergency contacts.
04
Check-in verification
Officers clock in through the GuardServicesUSA Protect app, which confirms location at check-in.
05
Continuous coverage
Shifts are scheduled back-to-back so that there are no gaps in fire watch coverage before the system is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a fire watch required?
Typically, when a sprinkler or fire alarm system is out of service, during hot work or when ordered by the fire official. Your local fire code and authority having jurisdiction set the exact rules.
How often does a fire watch officer make rounds?
The fire official usually sets the interval. We follow the frequency required for your site and document every round.
Can my own employees perform fire watch?
This is down the fire official and local jurisdictional requirements, but it is sometimes possible. Many businesses use a professional fire watch service, to that their employees are not disrupted from doing their jobs and the log is kept up to date.
How fast can you get a fire watch officer on site?
One of our specialties is same-day and late-notice fire watch requests. If you call our dispatch line, we will confirm coverage as rapidly as possible.
How long does a fire watch last?
Until your system is repaired and the fire official clears it or until the hot work or event ends.
Need a Fire Watch Now?
Call 855-843-8900 to request fire watch coverage or request a free security assessment for planned work.
Our sister company, Facilities USA, provides fire and life safety services, so you can have a single coordinated partner who can help with both the fire watch and the system repair.
Other Types of Security Coverage
Unarmed Security Guards
Deterrence, access control, customer service, and reporting at one post
Armed Security Guards
Everything an unarmed officer does, plus readiness to meet a violent threat
Mobile Patrol
Scheduled or randomized checks across several sites, lockups, and alarm response
Off-Duty Police Officers
Uniformed police presence, traffic control, and high-risk response