TFRD Procedures & Guides

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Definition

There are two types of Firewatch:

1. One is a guard against a rekindle.

2. One is initiated in response to a condition where a fire detection or suppression system is compromised or deficient per the Ohio Fire Code.

Policy/Procedure

Rekindle

As a guard against rekindle, a fire watch may be established at the discretion of a Battalion Chief with consultation with the Deputy Chief of Operations or their designee who has assumed Command at unusually difficult incidents only. Extreme consideration shall be given to an incident before approval of fire watch is granted. Crews shall maintain the practice of engaging in proper overhaul technique and shall be granted fire watch where conditions have been deemed unsafe to ensure complete extinguishment has been achieved, or where extreme circumstances present on the fire ground make this determination highly difficult.

1. A Battalion Chief who assumes Command of a fire incident shall maintain responsibility for that incident through to its final extinguishment, or until relieved of that responsibility by another chief officer. If a Battalion Chief deems it appropriate to pass command to a subordinate officer during the overhaul stage, the assuming officer shall maintain responsibility for final extinguishment.

2. Where a Battalion Chief had assumed Command and was preparing to leave the incident scene, the Battalion Chief must leave detailed instructions for the officer assuming Command. These instructions should include specifics addressing overhaul, and whether a fire watch should be established. The officer left in charge by the Chief shall assume the duties of Incident Commander and be the last unit to leave the scene unless the Battalion Chief grants permission to the contrary.

3. Prior to leaving the scene, the officer left in charge of the incident shall conduct one last walk through to check for symptoms of non-extinguished fire. Hot spots shall be uncovered and extinguished promptly. When the officer in charge believes it is safe to leave the scene, they shall notify Dispatch via radio of their intent to leave and shall direct Dispatch to establish a fire watch on the structure if the Battalion Chief initially in command has approved such watch.

4. After one hour, Dispatch shall arrange for the first due engine at the incident (if available) to return to the scene to survey the structure for evidence of non-extinguished fire. The entire crew shall conduct this fire watch. If hotspots are identified, they shall summon whatever resources are needed to manage the problem. If, after a thorough inspection of the structure, no hotspots are identified, the officer of the first fire watch shall notify Dispatch of this fact and arrange for a second fire watch.

5. The second fire watch shall be conducted by the second due apparatus at the incident, if available. They shall be dispatched to this duty approximately one hour after the completion of the first fire watch. This crew shall conduct another walk through of the structure looking for evidence of non-extinguished fire. If there is no evidence of fire present, the officer shall direct Dispatch to contact the Battalion Chief who has responsibility for the incident to have them report to the scene. (If the Battalion Chief is not available, an alternate chief officer shall be sent.) If, after an on-site inspection of the fire structure, the Battalion Chief agrees that the fire is out, the fire watches may be suspended and the incident closed. In all instances, the Battalion Chief shall make this pronouncement via radio.

6. In all cases, two successive fire watches must be conducted in which no evidence of non-extinguished fire was observed before the Battalion Chief is summoned to the scene for final pronouncement.

7. This procedure is intended to safeguard against rekindle situations. Rekindles will be considered as a Class I, II, or III violation and dealt with accordingly.

Ohio Fire Code

A Fire Watch per the Ohio Fire Code is a temporary measure, intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building by one or more qualified individuals for the purpose of identifying and controlling hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, raising an alarm of fires and notifying the fire department.

1. This occurs when a required fire protection system is out of service. An approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown.

2. Qualified personnel shall be provided to serve as an on-site watch. The sole duty of Fire Watch personnel shall be to watch for fire occurrence. They shall have a portable fire extinguisher, flashlight and the means to contact 911 available. All fires shall be reported immediately to 911. They shall walk the building every hour for unoccupied structures and every half hour for occupied structures until the system is returned to full service.

3. Officers, if a condition exists that you find a system deficient in any way, notify the owner or their representative that they are to immediately initiate a Fire Watch as per the Ohio Fire Code.

4. The officer in charge shall notify dispatch over the radio that the owner/representative was put on notice of Fire Watch.

5. Follow up with an email to Fire Prevention stating the facts. FPB will follow up during business hours to ensure the Fire Watch is being performed and that they are doing necessary repairs.

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