Fire Watch Course for Security Officers (US): Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: What a fire watch is and the rules behind it

A fire watch is a person, or a team, who patrols a building to look for fire and warn people. Fire codes based on the International Fire Code (IFC) call it a temporary measure for continuous, systematic watching of a building. Its jobs are to spot and control fire hazards, find early signs of fire, raise the alarm and notify the fire department.

Most states and cities adopt the IFC with their own changes. The Fire Code of New York State, the North Carolina Fire Code and the Ohio Fire Code each have a section 901.7 on systems that are out of service. Check which code your city or county uses.

What section 901.7 requires

• When a required fire protection system is out of service, the fire department and the fire code official must be notified right away.
• If the fire code official requires it, the building must be evacuated or an approved fire watch provided for the people left unprotected.
• The fire watch continues until the system is back in service.
• The owner names an impairment coordinator (901.7.1). If nobody is named, the owner is the coordinator.
• A tag shows that a system is out of service (901.7.2). Tags go at places such as the fire department connection, control valves and the fire alarm control unit.

Training and age rules differ

Some places set their own rules for who may stand a fire watch. In New York City, after the first 4 hours of an outage, impairment patrols may only be done by fire guards holding an FDNY F-01 Certificate of Fitness. Idaho Falls, Idaho, asks for responsible adults at least 18 years old. Many states also require a security guard license. This course is background knowledge only and does not replace any certificate or training the law requires.

Lesson 2: Getting ready for the watch

Fire codes adopted in places such as Missouri City, Texas, McDowell County, North Carolina, and Miami Township, Ohio, say a fire watch person's only duty is to do constant patrols and keep watch for fires. FDNY also says fire guards cannot be given other jobs during patrols.

What to carry

• At least one approved way to notify the fire department, such as a phone or radio that can reach 911. This is the minimum in section 901.7.
• A charged cell phone with enough battery for your whole shift (FDNY).
• A portable fire extinguisher you are trained to use. FDNY says to carry one if your area has none.
• A way to warn occupants, such as the building's PA system if it still works (Brunswick County).
• The fire watch log, and keys or access cards for every area on your route.

Know the building

• Which system is out, and which floors or zones it covers
• Where the exits, stairs, pull stations and extinguishers are
• Who in the building may need help to leave

Large buildings need more than one person. FDNY says one fire guard may patrol no more than 50,000 square feet of floor area.

Lesson 3: Patrol rounds and what to look for

Section 901.7 asks for constant patrols, but it does not set one time for every place. Your fire department or permit sets the frequency. Here are real examples:

Cover every affected area on each round. If more than one rule applies to your site, follow the stricter one.

On each round, look for

• Smoke, burning smells, heat or unusual sounds
• Blocked exits and other hazards (Richardson, Texas, names both in its fire watch duties)
• Exit doors that are locked or hard to open
• Fire doors wedged open
• Rubbish or other fuel piled near heat sources

OSHA's exit route rules say exit routes must be kept free and unobstructed, and workers must be able to open an exit route door from the inside without keys, tools or special knowledge. FDNY says defects must be reported to the building owner or responsible person immediately.

Lesson 4: Keeping the fire watch log

The log proves the watch was done. Miami Township, Ohio, and McDowell County, North Carolina, say the log must stay on site for review. Fill it in right after each round.

What goes in the log

Brunswick County, North Carolina, asks for:

• The facility address
• The time each patrol tour was completed
• The name of the person doing the fire watch
• A record of communications with the fire department and the monitoring company
• Any abnormal conditions, with the date, time and your signature

FDNY fire guards also record the number of inspections, the defects and violations found, and their certificate number. Miami Township, Ohio, allows an electronic log if the fire department can inspect it.

Lesson 5: If you find fire or smoke

While the alarm or sprinklers are out, you may be the only warning people get. FDNY teaches fire guards this order:

1. Call 911 with no delay. Give the exact address and the type of emergency.
2. Sound the alarm with a pull station if one works, or warn people another way.
3. Tell the impairment coordinator or other person in charge, after 911 has been called.
4. Help people leave if needed. People on the fire floor and the floor above go first, using the stairs, not elevators.
5. Meet the fire department and tell them what the emergency is and where.

FDNY also warns: do not assume the fire department has been called just because you hear a fire alarm or smoke detector.

Lesson 6: Hot work fire watch and ending the watch

Hot work means welding, cutting and other work that makes sparks or flames. OSHA's general industry welding rule (29 CFR 1910.252) sets these fire watch rules:

• Before hot work, the person who authorizes it inspects the area and sets the precautions, preferably in a written permit.
• A fire watch is required when appreciable combustible material is closer than 35 feet to the work, among other conditions.
• Fire watchers must have fire extinguishing equipment ready, be trained to use it, and know how to sound an alarm.
• They try to put out a fire only when it is clearly within the capacity of the equipment on hand. Otherwise they sound the alarm.
• The fire watch continues for at least half an hour after welding or cutting is finished, to catch smoldering fires.

If your permit or local code sets a longer time, follow it. OSHA's construction rule (29 CFR 1926.352) also calls for a fire watch when normal precautions are not enough.

Ending the fire watch

Under section 901.7.6, the impairment coordinator makes sure the system is inspected and tested, tells supervisors, the fire department, the owner, the insurer and the alarm company that protection is back, and then removes the tag. Some places, such as McDowell County, North Carolina, and Missouri City, Texas, also need the fire code official to approve or inspect before the watch ends. Record the time you were told to stop, sign your last entry and hand in the log.