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(DC, Maryland, Virginia)
Hours
24/7 365 Days
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Fire Protection Engineering's Most Reliable Firewatch Partner in DC/MD/VA
DCJS-Licensed | NFPA 25/72/IFC Compliant | Fire Marshal Coordination | <2Hour Dispatch
Firewatch DMV, Inc eliminates liability exposure for fire protection engineers, life safety consultants, and FPE firms managing sprinkler impairments, fire alarm outages, and hot work operations across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Why Fire Protection Engineers Partner With Firewatch DMV
We transfer firewatch liability from your firm to a DCJS-licensed, insured provider with documented training and jurisdictional expertise. Our documentation withstands fire marshal audits and litigation discovery.
🛡️
Liability Protection
$2M General Liability + Professional Liability Insurance.
Certificate of Insurance provided with every deployment. Our guards operate under our license, your firm's exposure is eliminated.
Audit-Ready Documentation
📋
Real-time digital logs + photographic evidence
Every patrol timestamped and GPS-verified. Post-deployment package includes fire marshal notification receipts and compliance certifications.
Engineer-First Communication
🤝
Direct line to operations managers.
We can brief contractors, coordinate system restoration milestones, and notify fire marshals when systems return to service so you don't have to
Emergency Response
⚡
Average 90-minute dispatch, guaranteed <4 hours. 24/7/365
operations center staffed by managers (not answering services). We've never missed a fire marshal deadline.
Jurisdictional Expertise
🎯
We know the difference between Washington DC requirements and Prince William's.
Guards trained in local fire marshal protocols, reporting formats, and penalty avoidance strategies.
DCJS-Licensed & Veteran-Owned
✅
Officially Licensed to conduct Fire Watch
Unlike national franchises, we're locally accountable to the DMV engineering community. Our team lives and works in the jurisdictions we serve and are fully licensed in DC, MD & VA.
When Is Firewatch Required? Code Triggers Decoded for Engineers
Fire marshals interpret these codes differently across jurisdictions. Here's what actually triggers mandatory firewatch in DC/MD/VA:
Critical Note for Engineers: The code sets minimum requirements. Fire marshals routinely impose stricter terms based on occupancy type, building height, or system redundancy. Always confirm local interpretation before specifying firewatch duration.
DMV Fire Marshal Requirements: The Granular Details Your Competitors Miss
A lot of firewatch companies use generic protocols. We tailor every deployment to meet jurisdiction specific requirements that fire marshals actually enforce.
Washington, DC Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email fire.marshal@dc.gov with building address, system affected, anticipated restoration time. Follow-up call required if impairment exceeds 24 hours.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly patrols standard. High-rise (>75 ft) or assembly occupancies: 30-minute intervals.
Documentation:
Handwritten logs acceptable but must include: guard name, time, areas checked, and "all clear" notation. Digital logs preferred for audit trail.
Unique Requirement:
Buildings >50,000 sq ft may require audible notification system (air horn/megaphone) stationed at guard post during alarm impairments.
Fire Marshal Contact:
fire.marshal@dc.gov | (202) 727-1600
Fairfax County, VA Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
IMMEDIATE phone call to (703) 246-4849 upon impairment. Email fire.inspections@fairfaxcounty.gov with written notification within 2 hours.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly for sprinkler impairments. Every 15 minutes for hot work. Continuous presence required in high-hazard occupancies.
Documentation:
Pre-printed logbooks required (free template available from fire marshal). Must include date, time, location, guard signature, and supervisor contact.
Penalty Avoidance:
$500 base fine + $250/day for non-compliance. Inspector spot-checks common. Guards must carry copy of impairment notification and fire marshal approval email.
Fire Marshal Contact:
fire.inspections@fairfaxcounty.gov | (703) 246-4849
Arlington County, VA Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email fire-firecodeinquiry@arlingtonva.us. Response typically within 2 hours during business hours. After-hours: Call (703) 228-4644.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly standard. No 30-minute requirement unless building >12 stories or fire marshal specifically mandates.
Documentation:
Digital logs accepted. Must include GPS timestamp for patrol start/end. Photos of each floor/zone checked preferred but not mandatory.
Restoration Protocol:
Fire marshal requires written confirmation when system restored. Include test results and contractor sign-off.
Fire Marshal Contact:
fire-firecodeinquiry@arlingtonva.us | (703) 228-4644
Alexandria, VA Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email russell.furr@alexandriava.gov (Duty Fire Marshal). Include building name, address, occupancy type, and estimated restoration time.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly minimum. High-rise or mixed-use: 30-minute intervals during peak occupancy hours (9 AM - 6 PM).
Documentation:
Logbook must remain onsite during entire impairment. Fire marshal reserves right to inspect during spot checks. Guards must provide photo ID if requested.
Known Strictness:
Alexandria enforces compliance rigorously. Late notifications result in immediate violation notices. Budget 10% higher guard presence than other jurisdictions.
Fire Marshal Contact:
russell.furr@alexandriava.gov | (703) 746-4247
Prince George's County, MD Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email and phone notification required. Contact local fire station AND county fire marshal. Dual notification prevents enforcement gaps.
Patrol Frequency:
30-minute intervals standard for commercial properties. Residential (apartments): Hourly acceptable if <100 units.
Documentation:
PG County requires post-impairment inspection by fire marshal. Logbook must be submitted for review. Incomplete logs = failed inspection.
Pre-Planned Impairments:
Submit written impairment plan 72 hours in advance. Include firewatch schedule, contractor info, and restoration timeline.
County Fire Marshal:
msp.osfm@maryland.gov | 410-653-8980
Montgomery County, MD fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Pre-notification required for planned impairments. Email fire marshal 48 hours before work begins. Emergency impairments: Notify within 1 hour.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly standard. 30-minute intervals for high-rise or high-hazard occupancies (hospitals, schools, assembly).
Documentation:
Written impairment plan required for pre-planned work. Include: building plans, affected zones, firewatch schedule, contractor contacts, restoration procedure.
Approval Process:
Fire marshal may require in-person meeting for complex impairments (>72 hours or multiple systems affected).
Fire Marshal Contact:
DPS.eServicesFPCC@montgomerycountymd.gov | (240) 777-0311
Loudoun County, VA Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email dutyfm@loudoun.gov. Acknowledgment typically within 4 hours. After-hours: Leave voicemail at (703) 737-8600 and send email.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly standard. Data centers or critical facilities: 30-minute intervals or continuous presence depending on fire marshal assessment.
Documentation:
Digital logs accepted. Loudoun prefers cloud-based logging systems for real-time monitoring. PDF submission within 24 hours of restoration.
Tech-Forward Jurisdiction:
Loudoun encourages use of firewatch apps with GPS verification. Guards equipped with smartphones preferred.
Fire Marshal Contact:
dutyfm@loudoun.gov | (703) 737-8600
Prince William County, VA Fire Watch
Notification Protocol:
Email msmolsky@pwcgov.org (Fire Marshal). Include site plan and affected building zones. Response within 24 hours for non-emergencies.
Patrol Frequency:
Hourly standard. No documented cases of 30-minute requirement unless specifically mandated by fire marshal for unique hazards.
Documentation:
Logbook format flexible. Must include guard certification information and emergency contact numbers. Fire marshal spot-checks rare but thorough.
Contractor Coordination:
Prince William encourages direct communication between firewatch guards and repair contractors. Document all coordination in logs.
Fire Marshal Contact:
FMOECI@pwcgov.org | 703-792-6360
– James, K St Corridor DC
"I had less than 2 hours to find a firewatch for my apartment building on K Street in DC. Firewatch DMV showed up fast and handled everything by the book. Highly recommend!"
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– Vanessa, Capitol Hill DC
"We failed inspection due to our alarm system and needed firewatch that same night. They had someone on-site in 45 minutes. Extremely professional."
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– Omar, Farragut Square DC
"Reliable, fast, and no BS. Our construction site uses Firewatch DMV on all projects now."
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– Christi NoMa DC
"Very easy to deal with, great communication, punctual and best price we found. Our previous Firewatch company had issues with staff not showing up and we switched to Firewatch DMV, we wished we contacted them initially. Thanks guys!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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