SECTION 1: MISSION OF FIREWATCH PERSONNEL
Firewatch personnel serve as temporary hazard monitors during fire protection system impairments, construction activities, hot work, or alarm malfunctions.
You are not law enforcement or medical personnel. Your primary job is:
• To detect fire, smoke, or hazardous conditions
• To notify 911 and building occupants immediately
• To attempt extinguishment of incipient stage fires ONLY after calling 911 and ONLY when safe to do so (see Section 3A)
• To document observations and maintain a logbook
• To remain alert and cover all assigned areas
SECTION 2: GENERAL CONDUCT AND POST ORDERS
1. Remain awake and alert at all times. — Sleep or fatigue-related behavior is grounds for termination and liability.
2. Never leave your assigned area unless relieved.
3. Perform visual rounds/patrols twice every hour, — or as required by the site-specific protocol.
4. Log each round accurately and in real time once you complete your round/patrol. — Pre-filled lines or falsified entries are a fire code and criminal violation.
5. Carry a working flashlight, logbook, and charged cell phone at all times. — Everywhere you go on duty, they go with you.
6. Maintain professional appearance and behavior on-site. — Business casual dress code is required.
7. Report any non-emergency issues to your Team Lead immediately.
8. Stay at your designated post in between rounds/patrols. — Not in your car, not in undesignated areas. Leaving the project site on lunch is not authorized.
9. You take direction ONLY from the Fire Marshal or your Firewatch DMV, Inc. Team Lead/Supervisor. — Do not accept tasks, instructions, or assignments from building management, tenants, or any other party.
10. Know the location of all portable fire extinguishers on your route.
SECTION 3: ROUNDS & OBSERVATION PROTOCOLS
During each round:
• Check hallways, stairwells, and mechanical areas for fire/smoke
• Inspect emergency egress paths for access and clear egress
• Confirm fire extinguishers and alarms are unobstructed
• Look for illegal activities (hot work, open flames, smoking)
• Note fire doors — they must remain closed unless there is a suspected locking malfunction (report to Team Lead immediately)
• Inspect ADA (Handicap) Observation Zones / Areas of Refuge
• Ensure exit signage and emergency lights are functional
• Remove any objects blocking egress doors and document in logbook
• Do not operate any machinery or alarms unless authorized
SECTION 3A: FIRE RESPONSE PROTOCOL
LEGAL BASIS: IFC 403.12.1.2 (Virginia & DC) requires fire watch personnel to “take prompt measures for extinguishment of fires that occur.” NFPA 101 (Maryland) requires personnel to be “trained in the use of a fire extinguisher and capable of extinguishing a small incipient stage fire.” OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g) requires hands-on extinguisher training for any personnel expected to use them.
STEP 1: CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Give the address, floor, and what you see.
This happens FIRST. Every time. No exceptions.
Even if the fire is tiny. Even if you think you can handle it. CALL 911 FIRST.
STEP 2: CAN I FIGHT THIS FIRE?
Check all 4. If any answer is NO → skip to Step 3.
☐ SEE: Can I see the actual fire? (Not just smoke)
☐ SMALL: Is it on one object only, flames below my head?
☐ HERE: Is a fire extinguisher within arm’s reach right now?
☐ TRAINED: Have I completed extinguisher training?
ALL 4? → One shot with the extinguisher. Use PASS.
Didn’t work after one full discharge? → Drop it. Go to Step 3.
MISSING EVEN ONE? → Go to Step 3 immediately.
STEP 3: ALARM → ASSIST → GET OUT.
1. Sound the alarm (megaphone, whistle, pull station)
2. Help handicapped occupants to the nearest area of refuge
3. Exit the building yourself
4. Contact your Team Lead
5. Document everything after you are safe
ONCE YOU ARE OUT — DO NOT GO BACK IN.
Wait for the fire department to clear the building.
What Does “SMALL” Mean? (Incipient Stage Fire)
An incipient fire is a fire that just started. Think: a trash can on fire, a single appliance sparking, a small pile of paper burning. It has NOT spread to anything else.
INCIPIENT = YOU MAY TRY (after calling 911):
✓ Fire is on ONE thing only
✓ Flames are below your head height
✓ You can see clearly — no thick smoke
✓ The room feels normal temperature
✓ You can walk toward the fire without the heat pushing you back
BEYOND INCIPIENT = DO NOT TRY. GET OUT:
✗ Fire has spread to a second object
✗ Flames are near or touching the ceiling
✗ Dark smoke layer forming overhead
✗ Heat forces you to step back or crouch
✗ You can’t see the far wall clearly
✗ One extinguisher didn’t put it out
✗ Fire is inside a wall, ceiling, or electrical panel
✗ You only smell/see smoke but no visible fire
IF YOU SEE EVEN ONE OF THESE → DO NOT ATTEMPT. EVACUATE.
The PASS Technique
If all 4 conditions are met (SEE, SMALL, HERE, TRAINED):
P = Pull the pin
A = Aim at the BASE of the fire (not the flames)
S = Squeeze the handle
S = Sweep side to side at the base
Stand 6–8 feet away. Keep your back to the exit. One full discharge only. If it’s not out — drop it and get out.
Special Situations
Smoke only (no visible flame):
Call 911. Do NOT attempt anything. Smoke without flame means the fire may be hidden inside a wall, ceiling, or duct. Evacuate.
Electrical fire (outlet, cord, panel):
Call 911. If the fire is visible at the point of origin (not inside a wall) and an ABC-rated extinguisher is right there and you’re trained — one shot. If it’s inside a wall or panel, or involves active sparking — do NOT touch it. Get out.
Grease/cooking fire:
Call 911. NEVER use water on a grease fire — it explodes. Only a Class K extinguisher works on grease. If you don’t have a Class K right there, get out.
Who Provides Fire Extinguishers?
The property owner is legally required to install and maintain portable fire extinguishers (IFC 906 / NFPA 10). Firewatch DMV does not bring extinguishers to project sites. You use what is already on-site.
At the start of every assignment, confirm extinguishers are present, accessible, and have current inspection tags. If they are missing, expired, or blocked — document it in your logbook and report to HQ immediately.
If no extinguisher is available during a fire: call 911, alarm, assist, evacuate. You are not responsible for the property owner’s failure to provide required equipment.
How to Answer a Fire Marshal
If a Fire Marshal asks: “What would you do if you found a small fire?”
Your answer: “I call 911 first, every time. Then I check four things: can I see the fire, is it small and on one object, is an extinguisher right here, and am I trained. If all four are yes, I give it one shot with the extinguisher. If it doesn’t go out, I drop it, sound the alarm, help anyone with disabilities, and get out. If any of those four aren’t there, I go straight to the alarm and evacuation. I never touch anything before calling 911.”
Training Requirements
All Firewatch DMV personnel must complete:
• Hands-on fire extinguisher training before first deployment
• Annual refresher training (documented with date, instructor, and employee signature)
• Training covers: extinguisher types (A, B, C, K, ABC), the PASS technique, live or simulated fire practice, and recognition of incipient vs. beyond-incipient indicators
Training records are retained by Firewatch DMV, Inc. and available for Fire Marshal inspection upon request.
SECTION 4: ADA OBSERVATION ZONES
Firewatch personnel must:
• Identify all ADA Areas of Refuge (typically located near stairwells)
• Ensure paths to these areas are clear and accessible
• If an ADA zone is occupied during an emergency, report its location to 911 immediately
• You are NOT to physically evacuate anyone — guide them to the nearest safe area of refuge or exit if possible without risking their or your safety
SECTION 5: EMERGENCY EXITS AND BUILDING SCHEMATICS
Personnel must:
• Be familiar with all emergency exits in the area
• Ensure exits are not blocked, locked, or dark
• Know the location of stairwells, elevators (do not use during fires), fire alarm pulls, and extinguishers
• Review the building’s evacuation plan and layout provided by Client or HQ
If the client fails to provide evacuation plans or site schematics, document this deficiency in your logbook and contact your Team Lead immediately. The client is contractually required to provide this information.
SECTION 6: INCIDENT RESPONSE & NOTIFICATION
If a hazard is found:
1. Call 911 — and state: “I’m a firewatch officer reporting a fire hazard at [address].”
2. Follow the 3-step protocol from Section 3A — (Call 911, check 4 conditions, Alarm/Assist/Evacuate).
3. Notify Firewatch DMV HQ/Team Lead — and provide details (location, nature, severity, actions taken).
4. Remain outside the structure — in a designated safe area and do not re-enter until cleared by the fire department.
5. Fill out an Incident Report Form.
SECTION 7: DOCUMENTATION & LOGBOOK
Every round must be documented. Include:
• Date & time round was completed
• Location/zone checked
• Findings (even if nothing was found — be specific)
• Your full printed name and signature
NEVER write entries in advance. NEVER pre-fill times.
Logs are legal records and may be subpoenaed in court.
Falsification can result in criminal and civil charges,
immediate termination, and personal liability.
At certain project sites, Firewatch DMV places QR codes along your patrol route. These QR codes do two things: they show you exactly where to walk during each round, and they create a digital time stamped record proving your round was completed. Scanning is mandatory at every QR code site and directly affects your pay.
The Rule
You must complete a full round, scanning ALL QR codes on your route, every 30 minutes.
“Complete” means scanning the LAST QR code on your route within the 30 minute window.
SECTION 8: CLIENT COOPERATION AND LIMITATIONS
Firewatch DMV clients are contractually required to:
• Provide evacuation plans and site schematics
• Identify all firewatch coverage zones and ADA areas
• Maintain open access to all monitored spaces
• Maintain code-compliant portable fire extinguishers (IFC 906 / NFPA 10)
If the client refuses or fails to do so:
• Note the deficiency in your log
• Contact HQ immediately
SECTION 9: COURT AND INVESTIGATION PREPAREDNESS
In the event of a fire, injury, or property damage:
• Your logbook may be submitted as evidence
• You may be subpoenaed to testify
• All documentation must be clean, legible, and factual
• Report only what you directly observed — state facts
• Do not speculate or provide opinions during testimony
• Do not guess about anything you did not personally witness
• If you do not know the answer, say “I don’t know”
SECTION 10: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & SIGNATURE
By signing below, I certify that I:
• Have read and understood the full Firewatch DMV training manual
• Have completed hands-on fire extinguisher training and understand the SEE/SMALL/HERE/TRAINED decision framework
• Understand that failure to follow any rule above may result in immediate termination
• Understand that I may be held personally liable if I falsify records, abandon post, or act outside the scope of my duty
