When a fire alarm system or sprinkler system goes offline, BC and Alberta fire codes require immediate human monitoring. Our Fire Watch Security Guard service deploys licensed guards to your property within hours conducting continuous patrols, maintaining detailed logs, and contacting emergency services the moment a hazard is identified. We have been providing code-compliant fire watch coverage across BC since 1993.
Call 24/7: 1-877-221-2333
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When Is Fire Watch Required?
Fire watch coverage is mandated under the BC Fire Code whenever a building’s fire suppression or alarm systems are non-operational. Common triggers include:
- Planned maintenance or testing of fire alarm systems
- Sprinkler system shut-down during renovation or pipe repair work
- Extended power outages affecting fire detection equipment
- Fire alarm or suppression system faults awaiting repair
- Construction site hot work operations near combustible materials
- Fire marshal orders requiring continuous monitoring during an impairment period
Fire watch is not only an insurance requirement, it is a fire code obligation. Our documentation meets fire marshal inspection standards and can be submitted directly to your insurer as evidence of continuous monitoring during the impairment period.
What Our Fire Watch Guards Do
Our fire watch security guards follow documented patrol protocols established before every assignment:
- Conduct continuous patrol circuits of the premises at defined intervals
- Identify fire hazards and document every patrol with timestamps and GPS-confirmed location
- Monitor all fire risk areas electrical panels, storage areas, hot work zones, and exit corridors
- Ensure all fire exits and fire lanes remain clear and accessible
- Contact emergency services immediately if a fire or smoke hazard is detected
- Coordinate the evacuation of occupants to pre-mapped muster points
- Direct emergency responders to the hazard location and provide patrol documentation on arrival
- Submit a complete PDF incident report at the end of every shift
Property Assessment and Patrol Planning
Before the first shift, we assess your property to develop a site-specific patrol plan. We identify fire risk zones, map patrol routes, note the location of all fire safety equipment, and establish ingress and egress paths for emergency security services. Guards receive a full site briefing before deployment so every guard on rotation is familiar with your property from the first circuit.
Technology and Incident Reporting
Our fire watch guards use the same mobile reporting platform as every division in our operation. Every patrol circuit is logged in real time via our reporting app with timestamps, GPS-confirmed location, and photo documentation where relevant. You receive a complete PDF incident report after every shift, ready for your records, your insurer, or your fire marshal.
Temporary and Permanent Fire Watch
Temporary fire watch covers short-term system outages a planned maintenance window, a renovation project, or an emergency repair period. Permanent fire watch is appropriate for industrial or high-risk properties where continuous monitoring is required beyond the duration of a single system impairment. We provide both, with the same guard standards, reporting protocols, and dispatch infrastructure.
Industries We Serve
We provide fire watch coverage across the following property types:
- Construction sites:- monitoring hot work operations, temporary electrical systems, and inactive suppression equipment
- Commercial buildings and office towers:- alarm or sprinkler outages during renovation or system maintenance
- Industrial and manufacturing facilities:- continuous monitoring for properties with ongoing combustion or chemical fire risk
- Strata complexes and high-rise residential:- sprinkler system shutdowns affecting multiple units or floors
- Vacant and restoration properties:- unoccupied buildings with inactive fire systems pending repair
- Hotels and hospitality properties:- minimising displacement during fire system impairments
- Educational institutions:- campus buildings undergoing maintenance or renovation
Licensed, Insured, and Code-Compliant
Every fire watch guard we deploy holds a valid provincial security licence under the Security Services Act (BC Security Programs Division) or the Security Services and Investigators Act (Alberta Justice). Guards carry their licence on duty at all times.
We carry full commercial liability insurance on every fire watch engagement. All guards are covered by Workers Compensation Board (WCB) in British Columbia and Alberta. Our fire watch documentation is prepared to meet fire marshal inspection requirements and insurer standards.
Trusted by the City of Vancouver, Fortis BC, and property managers across BC and Alberta for over 30 years.
Get Fire Watch Coverage
If your fire alarm or sprinkler system is offline or will be offline for scheduled maintenance contact our team immediately. We deploy licensed fire watch guards within hours and provide full shift documentation from day one.
Toll-Free (24/7): 1-877-221-2333
BC Head Office (Richmond): 604-231-9973
Calgary: 403-263-1844
Edmonton: 780-242-9973
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is a fire watch required under BC or Alberta fire code?
Fire watch is required whenever a building’s fire alarm system or sprinkler system is non-operational. Both the BC Fire Code and Alberta Fire Code mandate continuous human monitoring as the code-compliant substitute during any impairment period. Your local fire marshal or building inspector can confirm the specific requirement for your property.
Q: How quickly can you deploy fire watch guards?
We can deploy guards for emergency fire watch situations within a few hours of contact, depending on your location. For planned maintenance windows, we recommend booking 24-48 hours in advance. Contact our 24/7 line for emergency deployment: 1-877-221-2333.
Q: How long does a fire watch assignment last?
Fire watch assignments last for the duration of the system impairment from a few hours for minor maintenance to weeks for complex renovation projects. We provide coverage in shifts with guards rotating to maintain continuous monitoring without gaps. There is no minimum assignment length.
Q: What documentation do you provide for fire marshal inspections?
After every shift, you receive a PDF incident report including the patrol log, timestamps, GPS-confirmed patrol route, and any hazard observations. This documentation is formatted to meet fire marshal inspection standards and can be submitted directly to your insurer as evidence of continuous monitoring.
Q: Are your fire watch guards the same as regular security guards?
Our fire watch guards are licensed security guards with additional training in fire hazard identification, evacuation coordination, and fire code compliance protocols. They carry the same mobile reporting technology and operate under the same dispatch infrastructure as our other guard divisions but their assignment focus is exclusively on fire risk monitoring and prevention.
Q: Do you provide fire watch in Calgary and other Alberta cities?
Yes. We provide fire watch security guard services across Alberta including Calgary, Edmonton, and surrounding areas. Every Alberta guard holds a valid licence under the Security Services and Investigators Act (Alberta Justice). Call our Calgary line: 403-263-1844.
Q: Can you handle both temporary and permanent fire watch?
Yes. We provide temporary fire watch for planned maintenance windows, renovation projects, and emergency impairments. For industrial, manufacturing, or high-risk properties requiring ongoing monitoring, we offer permanent fire watch coverage on a contract basis. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Q: What areas of BC do you cover for fire watch?
We provide fire watch security guard services throughout British Columbia including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island (Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan), the Okanagan (Kelowna), the Interior (Kamloops, Prince George), and surrounding areas.
Talk to us section
British Columbia
Head Office
Suite 2255, 4871 Shell Road
Alderbridge Business Centre
Richmond, British Columbia
V6X 3Z6 Canada
T: 604-231-9973
Victoria, British Columbia:
T: 236-266-1240
