What is a fire watch?

A fire watch shall be provided during hot work activities and shall continue for not less than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the work. The fire watch shall include the entire hot work area. A fire watch in healthcare facilities is a temporary safety measure put in place when fire protection systems (like fire alarms, sprinklers, or smoke detectors) are out of service or impaired or during hot work activities. A fire watch requires dedicated assigned personnel (often security, facilities staff, or trained fire watch personnel) to continuously patrol the affected area. They check for signs of smoke, fire, or unsafe conditions and they must have immediate means of communication (like a phone or radio) and know how to activate emergency procedures. The person performing the fire watch should document a log of patrols, times, and findings.