Lesson 1: Saskatchewan's fire law and who enforces it
A fire watch is a person who patrols a building to look for fire and warn people while the normal fire protection is not fully working. In Saskatchewan, the rules come from The Fire Safety Act and The Fire Safety Regulations.
The fire code in force
The Fire Safety Regulations adopt the 2020 edition of the National Fire Code of Canada, with Saskatchewan amendments. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) describes the National Fire Code as the province's minimum fire safety standard.
| Who | Role under the Act |
|---|---|
| Fire commissioner | An SPSA employee appointed by the minister. Leads fire safety across the province. |
| Local assistant | In a municipality with a fire department, the fire chief or acting fire chief. Without one, the administrator or clerk, or a person the municipality appoints with the fire commissioner. |
| Fire inspector | May enter and inspect premises at reasonable times and issue written orders to owners. |
Every local assistant must administer and enforce the Act in their area. For the fire code, the authority having jurisdiction is the fire commissioner, a provincial inspector or a local assistant, depending on the case.
Under section 29, every owner must make sure the premises is built, altered and maintained under the Act, the regulations, any orders and local bylaws. An inspector's order can require the owner to repair or replace faulty fire protection devices.
Lesson 2: When a fire watch is needed
When part of a fire protection system is shut down, the owner must provide alternate measures to keep people safe. A fire watch is the most common one.
Regina Fire & Protective Services gives a clear local example in its fire safety plan bulletin:
- When a fire alarm system is out of service, hourly fire watch patrols must start immediately.
- A fire watch may also be required when other fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, are shut down.
- Occupants and the fire department must be told when systems go out of service and when they return.
- In a partial shutdown, the parts still working should stay in service where possible. Fire watch guards, bullhorns or radios can be used to warn people.
Other cities and towns may set different patrol times. Always follow your local fire department and your post orders, and use the stricter rule.
Never tamper with fire equipment
Section 42 of The Fire Safety Act makes it an offence to tamper with exit doors, exit signs, emergency lighting, extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire, heat or smoke detectors, or fire alarm devices or systems. An individual can be fined up to $25,000, plus up to $5,000 a day for a continuing offence.
Lesson 3: Patrolling and keeping the log
On each round, walk every affected area, including stairwells, service rooms and storage areas. Look, listen and smell.
- Smoke, burning smells, heat or unusual sounds
- Exits and corridors that are blocked or locked shut
- Fire doors wedged open
- Hot work or smoking where it is not allowed
- Rubbish or other combustibles near heat sources
If you cannot get into an area on your route, report it right away. An area you cannot check is an area nobody is watching.
The fire watch log
Write in the log right after each round: the area checked, the date and time, what you saw and what you did, and your initials. Regina's bulletin says records of fire protection tests and corrective measures are kept for two years, and the fire department may review them.
Lesson 4: Fire safety plans and drills
Most larger buildings must have a fire safety plan. The City of Regina says the building owner or agent is responsible for putting the plan into practice. A fire watch guard should read it before the first round.
What a fire safety plan covers
- How to sound the alarm, notify the fire department and evacuate, with special provisions for people who need help
- Who the supervisory staff are and what they do
- Diagrams of the fire emergency systems
- Fire drills, fire hazard control and maintenance of safety equipment
- In industrial buildings, hot work fire prevention measures
| Rule from Regina's bulletin and Saskatchewan's regulations | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Posting | At least one copy of the fire emergency procedures posted prominently on each floor area |
| Review | The plan is reviewed at least every 12 months |
| Supervisory staff | Trained in the fire emergency procedures before taking on the role |
| Drills (Saskatchewan amendment) | Day-care centres, alternative family care homes and Group B (care, treatment and detention) buildings: drills at intervals of not more than one month |
Lesson 5: If you find fire or smoke
If the alarm is out, nobody else will warn the occupants. Act fast and in this order:
- Alert the occupants with your air horn, whistle or other approved signal.
- Call 911 from a safe place. Regina's bulletin says to call 911 even if the alarm is monitored.
- Fight the fire only if it is small, you are trained and it is safe. Otherwise close the door and leave.
- Help people evacuate, especially those who need help.
- Meet the fire department and tell them what you know. Follow their directions.
The general flow of an evacuation, which a fire watch guard helps start.
- Raise the alarm and warn everyone in the building.
- Help people who need assistance to leave.
- Leave by the nearest safe exit.
- Gather at the assembly point.
- Count people and report to the fire department.
After the fire
Under section 20 of The Fire Safety Act, the local assistant must investigate every fire and start within three business days. Keep your notes and log safe. Do not obstruct or hinder a fire inspector or firefighter, and comply with their reasonable requests. Both are duties under section 42.
Lesson 6: Hot work and ending the watch
Regina's bulletin defines hot work as work that involves open flames or the production of heat or sparks, such as welding, cutting and grinding. Sparks can smoulder for a long time before a fire starts.
In Saskatchewan, hot work is covered by the National Fire Code and by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020, which have a hot work section (25-12) in their fire safety part. Regina's bulletin says the fire safety plan for an industrial building must include hot work fire prevention measures.
- Follow the hot work permit or site procedure, including how long the watch continues after the work stops.
- Keep a fire extinguisher close and know how to use it.
- Watch for sparks falling through cracks, floor openings and wall gaps.
- Check the area again before you leave, including the floor below.
Ending the fire watch
End the watch only when you are told the system is confirmed fully working and the fire department and occupants have been told it is back in service. Record the time the watch ended and hand in your log.