Licensed fire watch personnel deployed statewide within hours. Whether you're managing a refinery shutdown in Houston, a high-rise construction site in Dallas, or a large outdoor event in Austin, we have the trained, certified personnel to keep your operation compliant and safe.
What Is Fire Watch Service and Why Does Texas Require It?
When a fire suppression or alarm system goes offline due to maintenance, system failure, construction activity, or weather-related damage, Texas fire codes and NFPA 101 require the immediate deployment of a trained fire watch guard.
In Texas, fire watch is mandatory because of the devastation a fire can cause and the consequences of unmonitored safety equipment that malfunctions for any reason. Texas hosts large events, and any temporary over-capacity allowances must adhere to the fire code to ensure attendee safety. The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office enforces NFPA standards, and local fire marshals in major cities maintain strict compliance expectations. Failure to provide experienced fire watch when required can result in fines, work stoppages, or an undetected fire.
Our fire watch personnel are trained to NFPA standards, knowledgeable with Texas fire codes, and available to provide fire watch 24/7/365.
Our team stays up to date with all applicable standards. When you hire Off Duty Officers, you're getting a partner who understands compliance, and not just a body to fill a post.
Contact us today at 888-408-5900 for a hassle-free quote.
Our Texas Fire Watch Services
Construction Site Fire Watch
Active construction sites are among the highest-risk environments for fire. Hot work, including welding, cutting, and grinding, creates ignition hazards in areas where suppression systems are often not yet operational. We provide dedicated fire watch guards during and after hot work operations, meeting NFPA 51B requirements and satisfying general contractor and insurance mandates at job sites across Texas.
Impaired Safety Systems Fire Watch
An impaired safety system may include a sprinkler system, scheduled maintenance, repairs, or an unexpected system failure that triggers an immediate fire watch requirement. We deploy personnel quickly, often within 2–4 hours across the state. Our fire watch security guards can continuously monitor your facility until your system is restored and tested.
Commercial Building Fire Watch
Texas is home to some of the tallest commercial towers in the country. Houston's Energy Corridor, Dallas's Uptown district, and Austin's skyline all have unique fire watch challenges. Our guards are experienced in high-rise protocols, know how to coordinate with building management teams, and maintain detailed logs required for fire marshal inspections.
Industrial Fire Watch
Texas's Gulf Coast is the heart of American petrochemical and refinery operations, which present unique fire hazard profiles. The industrial environment is held to strict fire requirements to ensure safety. In environments like chemical plants, LNG facilities, offshore support yards, and hot-work areas, safety protocols must be adhered to, and that is what Off Duty Officers does better than anyone else.
Event & Temporary Structure Fire Watch
Large-scale events, such as festivals, concerts, sporting events, and trade shows, where capacity is temporarily exceeded, require fire watch personnel. When temporary structures, generators, open flames, or large crowds are involved, fire watch helps ensure event safety. We staff events of all sizes across Texas, from rodeos in Fort Worth to music festivals in Austin.
Overnight & Continuous Fire Watch
Some situations require round-the-clock coverage for days or weeks at a time. We offer shift-based continuous fire watch staffing with seamless guard transitions, detailed handoff logs, and supervisor oversight — so there's never a gap in coverage.
Cities & Regions We Serve Across Texas
We have trained fire watch guards throughout Texas and can deploy personnel statewide rapidly:
Don't see your city? We serve all 254 Texas counties. Contact us for deployment to your location.
Need Fire Watch in Texas? We're Ready.
Don't wait until a fire marshal shows up. Whether your sprinkler system went down tonight, you have hot work starting tomorrow morning, or you're planning months ahead for a major shutdown. Off Duty Officers is ready to deploy.
Contact us today to request a free quote online 24/7, or call our Texas Dispatch Line at 844-210-4511.
Serving all of Texas — Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Midland, and beyond.
Texas Fire Watch FAQs
Q: When is fire watch required in Texas?
Under NFPA 101 and local Texas fire codes, fire watch is required when a building's fire suppression or alarm systems are offline. Anytime safety systems are malfunctioning, undergoing maintenance, or under construction, a fire watch is required. Hot work operations, such as welding, almost always require a fire watch during the work and for a specified period after it concludes.
Q: How quickly can you deploy a fire watch guard in Texas?
In our primary service markets, including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, we typically deploy within 2–4 hours. In other Texas locations, response times vary, but we always work to get coverage to you as fast as possible.
Q: How long do fire watch guards need to be on-site?
How long fire watch guards must be on site depends, and we can help you determine what is required to remain compliant with the Texas fire code. For example, an impaired sprinkler system requires 24/7 coverage until it is repaired. Hot work requires a guard to remain for at least 60 minutes after work concludes. Some insurance companies require longer coverage, but we can help you determine what's required for your specific situation.
Q: Are your fire watch guards armed?
Fire watch is a life-safety service, not a security patrol. Our guards are not armed. Their role is to conduct patrols, identify fire hazards, sound alarms, and contact emergency services.
Q: What documentation do your guards provide?
Our familiarity with Texas fire watch ensures meticulous logs are kept for each shift, including patrols performed, observed hazards, communication with management, and, of course, any incidents. This documentation is provided to you and remains in accordance with your requirements.
Q: Do you serve industrial and oilfield sites in Texas?
Yes. We have extensive experience serving refineries, chemical plants, and upstream/midstream oil and gas facilities across the Gulf Coast, Golden Triangle, and Permian Basin. Guards assigned to these sites are familiar with site-specific safety onboarding requirements.