Prince Edward Island Fire Watch Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: PEI's fire safety law

Prince Edward Island's main fire law is now the Fire Safety Act (2024). It repealed most of the old Fire Prevention Act, so older documents that name the Fire Prevention Act may be out of date.

• The Minister appoints a Fire Marshal, who must enforce all laws in the province about fire prevention, fire protection systems, exits and arson (s. 8 and 9).
• The Fire Marshal may appoint local assistants, such as the chief of a fire department, and inspectors (s. 12 and 13).
• Every person must take reasonable precautions to achieve fire safety and comply with the Act, the regulations and any adopted code (s. 14).
• If the Fire Marshal believes a fire hazard exists, they can issue orders, for example to remove the hazard or close premises (s. 23).

The Fire Marshal's Office is part of the Department of Justice and Public Safety. The Provincial Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshals carry out fire inspections, plans review for new construction, and fire investigations.

Most firefighting on the Island is done by volunteers. The province reports 36 fire departments, and about 98.9% of its roughly 1,000 firefighters are volunteers. Crews may need extra time to gather, so early warning matters even more.

Lesson 2: The codes in force

The Fire Safety Regulations (section 6) adopt these codes for Prince Edward Island:

So PEI uses two NFPA codes, written by the National Fire Protection Association, as well as the National Fire Code. In Charlottetown, the Fire Prevention Office inspects buildings under the National Fire Code and the Uniform Fire Code, and also under the city's Fire Prevention Bylaw.

Who works on the systems

• No one may install a fire detection or fire protection system without a permit from the Fire Marshal (Fire Safety Act, s. 18).
• Under the Fire Detection and Fire Protection System Regulations, installers must be certified. Sprinkler installers need a trade qualification certificate or Red Seal, and trainees work only under direct supervision.

Lesson 3: When a fire system is out of service

A fire watch is most often needed when a fire alarm or sprinkler system is shut down or impaired. Charlottetown's fire safety plan template (2013), which quotes section 8.5 of the city's Fire Prevention Bylaw, sets out what happens:

1. Notify the Charlottetown Fire Department immediately.
2. Take action right away to restore the fire protection system to good working order.
3. Provide any emergency safety measures needed. Where parts of a system are out of service, watchmen, bull-horns and walkie-talkies are used to warn people of an emergency.

• Occupants are told about the shutdown, and instructions are posted.
• If only part of a system is out, the rest of the system must stay in service.
• The measures must be acceptable to the Chief Fire Official.
• If a commercial kitchen's fixed extinguishing system is out, cooking stops until it is restored.

Your duties on the watch

• Patrol every affected area at the frequency the fire department or your site sets.
• Look, listen and smell for smoke, heat and hazards.
• Write each round in the fire watch log right away, with time, area and what you found.
• Stay on the watch until you are told the system is fully back in service.

Lesson 4: Fire safety plans and supervisory staff

The National Fire Code requires a fire safety plan for many buildings. In Charlottetown, a fire safety plan is only valid after it has been accepted by the Charlottetown Fire Department, and changes must be sent to the department.

Guards are often part of a building's supervisory staff. Charlottetown's template lists duties like these:

• Keep the doors to stairwells closed at all times.
• Keep access to exits, inside and outside, clear at all times.
• Do not let combustible materials build up where they are a fire hazard.
• Keep fire protection equipment in good operating condition.
• Keep access roadways, fire routes and fire department connections clear.
• Take part in fire drills, and give firefighters access and information about where people are.
• Arrange for a substitute when you are absent.

Fire drills are recorded with the date, time, supervisor on duty, staff present and any problems found. Ask the fire department how many drills your building needs each year.

Lesson 5: Hot work and reporting fires

Hot work, such as welding and cutting, is covered by Part 37 of PEI's Occupational Health and Safety General Regulations:

• Welding and cutting are not allowed in an area with combustible materials unless precautions are taken to prevent fire or explosion (s. 37.2).
• Overhead work must stop slag and sparks falling on people or combustibles (s. 37.4).
• Fire retardant blankets go over open gratings to contain slag and sparks (s. 37.5).
• Adequate fire extinguishing equipment in good working order must be readily available (s. 37.8).

The adopted fire codes also have hot work rules. Your site's hot work permit says how long the fire watch lasts after work ends. Stay for the full time, because sparks can smoulder unseen.

If you find fire

1. Leave the fire area, close doors, warn occupants and sound the fire alarm.
2. Call 911 from a safe location and give the address and what you see.
3. Fight the fire only if it is small, you are trained and it is safe.
4. Help people leave and meet the fire department.

Under section 32(6) of the Fire Safety Act, any person who knows facts that suggest a fire's origin is suspicious must report it right away to the Fire Marshal or a local assistant. Write down what you saw and tell your supervisor.