The purpose of a fire watch is to provide temporary surveillance in a building or premises for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, initiating alarms or evacuation procedures, and notifying the fire department.

In general, a fire watch is to be used only as a temporary means to provide either an extra level of safety (in the case of a special event or hot work operation) or to supplant an out of service life safety system.

A fire watch cannot be used as a technique to avoid or delay the installation of a required fire sprinkler, fire alarm, or other life safety system. Hot work requires that a fire watch last throughout the duration of the operation and at least 30 minutes following the conclusion of work. The 30 minute time period may be extended by the fire code official depending on the nature of work or hazards present

Fire watch personnel need to be provided with a minimum of one (1), approved and reliable means of notification to the local fire department or fire alarm monitoring company. The “approved” means shall be determined by the local fire code official. Examples include a hard-wired telephone, cellular phone (with no dead-coverage areas), manual central station fire alarm, or radio.

Fire watch personnel shall also be provided access to fire extinguishing equipment (i.e., portable extinguishers) and have received adequate training on its safe use.

During hot work operations, fire watch personnel shall be supplied a minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 2A:20BC rating. This extinguisher shall be within 30 feet of the location where the hot work is performed. Fire watch and hot work personnel shall be trained on the proper use of fire extinguishers before performing these duties.

Finally, it is a requirement that all fire watch personnel record a log of their activity. The log shall have the following information:

1. Name and address of building /premises where fire watch is to be performed.

2. Reasons for the fire watch (i.e. special event, hot work operation, or specific hazards).

3. Name(s) of fire watch personnel assigned.

4. Date of fire watch.

5. Time of fire watch.

6. Area(s) patrolled.

7. Condition or status of the area patrolled.

Name/Address of Building: _________________________________________________

Reason for Fire Watch: ____________________________________________________

Person Performing Fire Watch:

Date:____/____ Time: ____/____am pm Area patrolled: ______________Status: ____________

Date:____/____ Time: ____/____am pm Area patrolled: ______________Status: ____________

Date:____/____ Time: ____/____am pm Area patrolled: ______________Status: ____________

If a fire watch is necessary it is required that you formally request it through the local fire code official or, in absence of a local fire official, the Division of Fire Safety. The fire code official or DFS shall determine if a fire watch is appropriate on a case by case basis using the following criteria as guidance:

• Hazards present.

• Occupancy type and/or occupancy load.

• Duration of fire watch requested.

• Training of fire watch personnel.

• Intent of repairing out of service life safety systems or equipment.

If the fire watch is granted, the owner or property manager must notify the following organizations or people:

1. Fire alarm monitoring company (if applicable).

2. Local fire department.

3. Building’s property insurance carrier.

4. Colorado Department of Health and Environment (healthcare facilities only)—303-753-6214.

When a fire watch is complete, it is the building owner’s or property manager’s responsibility to notify the same organizations or people they did to request the fire watch.

At the end of the fire watch, the log shall be mailed or emailedto the local fire code official at:

Durango Fire & Rescue
Fire Marshal Division
103 Sheppard Drive
Durango, Colorado 81303

Email: firemarshal@durangofire.org