Does Your Business
Need Fire Watch?

As the owner or manager of a business, you are responsible for much more than your bottom line. You are also responsible for the safety of all those on the property as well as the equipment that maintains the property. When an alarm system or sprinkler system is inoperable, it poses a great risk to your property and its visitors.

There are a number of situations that may require you to retain fire watch services. Off Duty Officers has been providing fire watch services for businesses across the country when they are required by the fire marshal due to emergency equipment failure or other security issues. 

If you are unsure if you require fire watch services, the best thing to do is contact your local fire marshal and explain your situation. Generally, businesses, commercial properties and residential facilities will be required to retain fire watch services. Failure to do so could result in fines or business closures.

What are Fire Watch Services? 

In the event you require fire watch services, you might be wondering what professional fire watch guards do and what their role is compared to the fire department. Fire watch guards are specially trained security personnel who physically patrol a site and monitor it for safety hazards until the fire risk has been addressed.

Patrolling the Site 

Fire watch guards perform regular patrols of the property at intervals determined by the business owner and fire marshal. Fire watch guards may patrol temporarily or for extended periods of time depending on the needs of the client. 

It is important to note that fire watch guards do not replace professional firefighters. In some cases, they may be authorized to handle small fires; however, in most scenarios they are meant to manage the risk until the fire department arrives on the scene. 

Checking for Hazards

Fire watch guards check the site for hazards or other conditions that may increase the risk of a fire or emergency. They will check entrances and exits to make sure they are clear in the event of an emergency evacuation. Guards will also monitor for any open flames, chemicals or other potential fire risks. If fire risks are found, fire watch guards contact the proper authorities before a major emergency arises.

Maintaining Patrol Logs

A major role of the fire watch guard includes keeping accurate and timely logs of their patrols. They also maintain records of any relevant information that a business owner may want to know, including the identification of any hazards, the mitigation of the hazards and communications with the appropriate authorities. In many jurisdictions, logs are required by the fire marshal as well as insurance companies.

Checking Building Equipment

Fire watch guards are also tasked with checking the condition of specialized equipment such as fire extinguishers. They identify equipment that is not functioning properly and ensure that it is replaced with functional equipment on site as soon as possible.  

Communicating with the Authorities

In the unfortunate event of a fire or other emergency, a fire watch guard is on site and ready to contact your local fire department or law enforcement officials. They are armed with all of the necessary contact information they need to make the call quickly and to reduce any potential damage or injuries that may occur.

3 Reasons You Might Need Fire Watch Services 

Now that you have an understanding of what fire watch guards can do for your business, it will be helpful to understand some of the most common reasons why your business may be required to have fire watch guards on the premises.

As mentioned earlier, if you are unsure if your business requires fire watch services, you should contact your local fire marshal for more information. It may be necessary to retain fire watch services in any of the following situations:

Ongoing Construction Site

In the midst of a construction zone, there are many fire hazards due to the equipment, materials and hot work that can occur there. In many jurisdictions, construction sites are required to have fire watch guards on the premises until the construction is complete. Failure to do this could result in fines and a halt in construction.

Interruptions in Water Supply

If your business has a sprinkler system that is not functioning, you may be required to retain fire watch guards. If there is a disruption in your water supply for any number of reasons including construction, freezing or burst pipes or natural disaster, your business may be required to have a fire watch guard on site to protect your property and occupants until the water supply is restored.

Malfunctioning Alarm System

Sometimes a new property may not have its fire alarm systems installed yet. Existing properties may be repairing or replacing alarms. In either case, your local fire marshal may require the presence of fire watch guards until your systems are up-and-running.

Off Duty Officers – Providing Off Duty Law Enforcement Officers Since 1993 

If your business has an unexpected malfunction in its fire alarm or sprinkler systems, or if your systems are inoperable due to scheduled maintenance or repair, you should retain professional and reliable fire watch guards from Off Duty Officers. Off Duty Officers has been providing top-level fire watch guards to businesses, property owners and construction managers all across the country since 1993.

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When you need the best fire watch security protection, call Off Duty Officers right away. Our team is standing by 24/7 to match you quickly with the best fire watch guards available in your area. 

Contact Off Duty Officers to receive an instant quote and learn how we can help protect your business from fire hazards whenever you need it most.