What is Fire Watch Guards? Fire watch services are on-duty, on-site security roles performed by specially designated, fully-trained guards. Such services usually include: patrol | duty | shifts} Regular patrols during shifts which cover the entire facility 24 hours a day and all year long. The shifts tend to be fairly short (typically from thirty minutes to an hour). The patrol officers will visit all of the emergency exits and facilities as well as check for any signs of fire. They will also speak to the control tower and the fire department to coordinate their response.
On-call fire watch guards (also called safety guards or emergency security guards) are responsible for responding to a fire emergency in the shortest period of time possible. Fire watch guards will report to the fire department within eight hours. The safety officer will then dispatch the appropriate personnel to handle the fire. Fire safety guards will receive specialized training specific to fire safety within the company.
Fire watch guards will work in close conjunction with the emergency response crews to identify and report all hazards. The goal is to make the fire safe so that rescue can begin as soon as possible. A typical day for a fire watch guard is usually very busy. They will respond to several calls throughout the day and stand by at several fire stations until the call is answered. They may also travel to the location of the fire to survey it and take any necessary measurements to contain the fire before it spreads. Fire watch guards may be required to travel to the scene of active fires in other locations outside the immediate area.
In addition to their on-shift responsibilities, fire watch guards may be required to perform unannounced shifts in areas where regular fire equipment is not available. They will make special trips to visit fire stations and inspect fire equipment to ensure it is in good working condition. Fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire hose reels and fire blankets are inspected during their shifts to make sure they are in proper working order.
Fire departments need to regularly evaluate fire watch guards to make certain that they are maintaining adequate preparedness. Since they are often highly skilled individuals, the job requires that they always be ready to assist the fire department when it is requested. This ensures that fire watch guards are able to effectively perform their duties without receiving unnecessary overtime or requiring extra supervision by the fire department. The purpose of having an off-shift fire guard is to provide backup for the entire department when they are called upon to attend an emergency.