A fire watch is a person assigned to patrol a building and look for fire hazards when its fire alarm or sprinkler system is not working. It keeps people safe until the system is repaired.
When it may be required
Requirements come from the local fire authority, so the exact rules and duration depend on your city and your building. If a system is out of service, contact your fire authority or fire protection contractor to confirm what applies.
What the officer does
The officer walks the building on a set schedule, records each round with a time stamp, looks for smoke, fire and blocked exits, and reports hazards immediately.
Getting coverage quickly
Fire watch is usually needed on short notice. Call your security provider as soon as you know a system is impaired, and keep the written logs ready for the fire authority.