Skip to main content

Firewatch

A fire watch is the action of an on-site person or persons, whose sole duty is to watch for the occurrence of fire and, if a fire does occur, immediately report it to 911. A fire watch is required to be performed in order for a building to remain occupied if a fire protection system fails, is out of service, is being modified due to construction, or if there have been an excessive number of preventable fire alarm activations or “nuisance alarms”.  A building owner (or their representative) may be required to maintain a fire watch until the system is repaired and fully operational.

To initiate a fire watch, a building or business owner will need to notify the Greeley Fire Department by contacting us by phone at 970-350-9510 or via email at FirePrevention@Greeleygov.com. A staff member will go over the specific fire watch requirements, responsibilities, duties, frequency of inspections, and how to cancel a fire watch upon completion. A fire watch log must be maintained at the facility for the duration of the fire watch and must be turned in daily to the Greeley Fire Department. Fire watch logs can be submitted to the Greeley Fire Department via email at FirePrevention@Greeleygov.com. For an example of a fire watch log, please visit the DFPC's website here.

It is also the responsibility of the building or business owner to notify the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC). Please visit their website here for more information about the specific requirements. 

For further information or to initiate a fire watch, please contact us at 970-350-9510 or via email at FirePrevention@Greeleygov.com.

Specific Requirements:

A fire watch is the action of an on-site person or persons, whose sole duty is to watch for the occurrence of fire and, if a fire does occur, immediately report it to the Greeley Fire Department (GFD). A fire watch is required to be performed in order for a building to remain occupied.

If a fire protection system fails, is out of service, is being modified due to construction, or if there have been an excessive number of preventable activations or “nuisance alarms,” a building owner (or their representative) may be required by GFD to maintain a fire watch until the system is repaired and fully operational. A nuisance alarm is defined as: any alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper maintenance, or an alarm activation by a cause that cannot be determined (2019 NFPA 72).

Fire watch personnel may be the building/business owner or designee. A professional security company may be required by GFD if life safety conditions warrant such action.

Failure to follow these fire watch procedures may result in a summons to court; the requirements of a professional, paid fire watch; or the premises being vacated.

GFD will coordinate with the building or business owner to explain the requirements of a fire watch.

During a fire watch, the building/business owner’s responsibilities will be to:

  • Establish, instruct, and maintain fire watch personnel.
  • Notify the alarm monitoring company.
  • Notify occupants of the building.
  • Contact an appropriate, licensed fire protection contractor to repair the fire protection system(s).
  • Notify GFD.
  • Notify the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control (DFPC).
  • Notify both GFD and DFPC when the system has been repaired and is again operational.

Fire watch personnel are not allowed to have duties other than their assigned fire watch. Additionally, the fire watch personnel must not perform firefighting duties beyond the scope of the ordinary citizen.

Persons serving as fire watch personnel have the following duties:

  • Determine at least one means of communication with GFD. This typically will be a telephone. If it is a cell phone, ensure cell coverage is adequate and continuous.
  • Have knowledge of the location and use of fire protection equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire alarm manual pull stations (if in workable condition). Fire extinguishers must be available on each floor and within 75 feet of any point of the building.
  • Conduct periodic patrols of the entire facility as specified (special attention shall be paid to storage areas, janitor closets, utility spaces, basements, attics, etc., and other normally unoccupied areas).
  • Identify any fire, life, or property hazards.
  • Record each tour of the premises on the fire watch log.
  • If a fire is discovered, activate the fire alarm system (when possible), and notify GFD by calling 911 with the exact address and type of emergency. Signs of a fire include visible smoke, flames, burning or smoke odor, odor of natural gas, etc.
  • Notify occupants of the facility of the need to evacuate. If the alarm notification devices or public address system of the fire alarm system are still functional, manually activate the alarm system to assist with the evacuation.

Fire watch personnel shall complete a patrol of the entire facility every 15 minutes in the following situations:

  • The building or facility has people sleeping.
  • The facility is an Institutional occupancy as defined by the Fire Code (hospital, nursing home, jail, etc.)
  • The building or facility is an occupied Assembly occupancy (restaurant, bar, theater, arena, etc.)
  • The building or facility is a High-Hazard (Group H) occupancy as defined by the Fire Code.

Facilities that do not meet the requirements for a 15-minute patrol frequency should have a fire watch patrol every 30 minutes while occupied. The Fire Marshal or GFD representative is authorized to modify this frequency based on hazardous conditions in the occupancy. If a facility cannot be completely patrolled by a fire watch personnel in the required time frame, additional personnel shall be assigned fire watch duties to ensure the complete facility is patrolled in the required interval.

It is the responsibility of the owner to contact GFD and DFPC when the fire protection system(s) is again operational. During normal business hours, please contact (970) 350-9510. Greeley Fire Department may provide a separate phone number for after-hours contact. The owner shall email the completed fire watch log to GFD at FirePrevention@Greeleygov.com and also to DFPC via their website.