Fire Watch
Fire Watch Services in Miami & South Florida
Fire watch services in Miami and South Florida, deployed within four hours across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties. Licensed, insured officers for alarm and sprinkler impairment, hot work, and construction with written fire watch logs from hour one.
Licensed fire watch guards on your property within four hours of your call with a response and assessment inside two.
- 24/7 including nights, weekends & holidays
- Written fire watch logs from hour one
- Fire marshal & insurance documentation
Alarm Or Sprinkler System Down Right Now?
Florida code requires a fire watch to begin immediately. We dispatch 24/7 across South Florida.
Licensed & Bonded
FL Agency B 3500420 · A 3500419
Veteran Preference
State of Florida certified
24/7 Coverage
Days, nights, weekends, holidays
Trained Officers
Field training, D & G licensed
Fire Watch Explained
What Is A Fire Watch?
QUICK ANSWER
A fire watch is a temporary safety measure in which trained personnel continuously patrol a building or site to detect fires, alert occupants and notify the fire department when a fire protection system is out of service or a fire hazard is present. Fire watch guards walk designated routes at set intervals, check for smoke, heat and hazards, keep a written log of every round, and are authorized to sound the alarm and call 911 immediately.
In practice, a fire watch is what keeps your building legally occupied when its fire alarm or sprinkler system is impaired. Rather than evacuating the property or halting operations, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) usually your local fire marshal allows the building to remain in use as long as a qualified fire watch guard is patrolling and documenting the property.
The term is also used in construction and industrial settings: during hot work such as welding, cutting or grinding, a dedicated fire watcher stands by with an extinguisher to catch sparks and smoldering material before they ignite. Both types are covered by our fire watch security services.
When Is A Fire Watch Required?
QUICK ANSWER
A fire watch is required whenever a building’s fire protection system is impaired or a temporary fire hazard exists most commonly when a fire alarm or NFPA 25 (sprinkler) = 10 hours, NFPA 72 (fire alarm) = 4 hours, during hot work such as welding or cutting, on construction and demolition sites, during large public events, and any time the fire marshal orders one.
Fire Alarm Impairment
Your fire alarm system is offline for testing, repair, upgrade or damage. Under NFPA 72 and Florida Fire Prevention Code, a fire watch must begin when the outage exceeds the permitted window.
Sprinkler System Impairment
NFPA 25 requires a fire watch when a sprinkler system is impaired for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period (4 hours in some occupancies and by local AHJ rule).
Hot Work — Welding & Cutting
OSHA 1910.252 and NFPA 51B require a fire watch during hot work and for at least 60 minutes, to catch smoldering ignition.
Construction & Renovation
Fire watch during construction covers sites where systems are not yet operational, standpipes are incomplete, or combustible materials and temporary heating are present.
Events & Assembly Occupancies
Fire marshals frequently require a fire watch for large gatherings, venues, tents, pyrotechnics and any temporary assembly use.
Power Outage Or Emergency
When power loss, storm damage or equipment failure disables fire protection, an emergency fire watch keeps the building compliant and occupied.
Fire Watch Standards & Codes That Apply in Florida
| Standard | What it requires |
|---|---|
| NFPA 25: Sprinkler Impairment | A fire watch is required when a water-based fire protection system is impaired beyond the permitted duration (commonly 10 hours in a 24-hour period; shorter in many occupancies). The impairment coordinator must notify the AHJ and insurer. |
| NFPA 72: Fire Alarm Impairment | When a fire alarm system is out of service, the building owner must arrange an approved alternative, typically a fire watch, and notify the AHJ. Common trigger: outage exceeding 4 hours in 24. |
| NFPA 51B / OSHA 1910.252: Hot Work | A dedicated fire watcher must be present during welding, cutting, brazing and grinding, and must remain for a minimum of 30 minutes (many AHJs require 60) after work stops. |
| NFPA 241: Construction & Demolition | Requires a fire prevention program including fire watch coverage on construction, alteration and demolition sites where hazards or system gaps exist. |
| NFPA 1 / Florida Fire Prevention Code | Gives the fire marshal authority to order a fire watch any time conditions present an undue fire risk, regardless of whether another standard specifically requires it. |
| Documentation | Every standard expects records: a written fire watch log with times, patrol routes, officer names and observations. This log is what your AHJ and insurance carrier will ask to see. |
On Post
Fire Watch Duties & Responsibilities
What a fire watch guard actually does on shift the standard every Almond Tree officer works to.
Continuous Patrol
Walking every designated route, floor, stairwell and roof area at the intervals set by your AHJ.
Hazard Detection
Watching for smoke, heat, burning odors, electrical faults, blocked exits and ignition sources.
Immediate Alarm & 911
Sounding the alarm, notifying occupants and calling the fire department the moment fire is detected.
Written Fire Watch Log
Recording every round with time, location, officer name and observations signed and available on demand.
Exit & Equipment Checks
Watching for smoke, heat, burning odors, electrical faults, blocked exits and ignition sources.
Evacuation Support
Directing occupants to exits and assembly points and assisting with head counts if evacuation is ordered.
Hot Work Standby
Standing by with an extinguisher during welding or cutting, and for the required 30–60 minutes afterward.
Point Of Contact
Meeting fire department, AHJ inspectors and your insurance representative and handing over documentation.
Properties We Cover Across South Florida
Office Buildings
High-rise and multi-tenant commercial towers
Retail & Shopping Centers
Stores, malls and food service operations
Condos & HOAs
Residential associations and apartment buildings
Hotels & Resorts
Keeping guests in rooms instead of evacuating
Construction Sites
New build, renovation and demolition projects
Warehouses & Industrial
Distribution centers and manufacturing plants
Healthcare Facilities
Clinics and care facilities with strict AHJ rules
Venues & Events
Assembly occupancies, tents and temporary structures
How Much Does A Fire Watch Cost?
QUICK ANSWER
Fire watch services are billed hourly, and the total depends on how many officers you need, how many hours per day, and how long the impairment lasts. Overnight, weekend and emergency same-day coverage typically costs more than scheduled daytime coverage. We quote a clear hourly rate before deployment with no hidden fees and no long-term contract required.
Because most fire watch situations are urgent, we keep quoting simple: call us, describe the property and the impairment, and you’ll have a rate and an arrival time in the same conversation.
What Determines Your Rate
Number Of Officers
Large properties and multi-floor buildings often require more than one guard per shift.
Coverage Hours
24-hour fire watch versus overnight-only or hot-work standby for a few hours.
Shift Timing
Nights, weekends and holidays carry different rates than standard business hours.
Urgency
Same-day emergency deployment differs from a scheduled system shutdown planned in advance.
Duration
Multi-week impairments and construction projects are quoted at longer-term rates.
Getting Fire Watch Guards On Site Today
01
Call Our 24/7 Line
Tell us your property type, what’s impaired and where you are. Two minutes on the phone.
02
Rate & Arrival Time
You get an hourly rate and a confirmed arrival window on the same call no waiting on a proposal.
03
Guards Deployed
Licensed officers arrive within 4 hours, briefed on your patrol route and log intervals.
04
Logs & Handover
Written logs from hour one, ready for your fire marshal and insurer until your system is restored.
Why Almond Tree
A Fire Watch Company That Actually Shows Up
4 HR
Deployment Commitment
24/7
Always Dispatching
125+
Years Of Command Experience
Leadership drawn from executive-level law enforcement including a former Chief of Police overseeing every assignment.
B 3500420
Licensed & Insured
40 HR
Trained Officers
Every officer holds a Florida Class D license (Class G for armed posts) and completes 40 hours of field training.
LOCAL
Homestead-Based
South Florida owned and operated you speak to a decision-maker, not a national call center routing your emergency.
Fire Watch Guards Across Miami & South Florida
Miami · Homestead · Hialeah · Doral · Kendall · Coral Gables · Cutler Bay · Miami Gardens · Aventura · Fort Lauderdale · Hollywood · Pembroke Pines · Miramar · Pompano Beach · Key West · Key Largo
Questions
Fire Watch FAQs
What does a fire watch guard do?
A fire watch guard continuously patrols your property on a set route and schedule, watching for smoke, heat and fire hazards, verifying that exits and fire equipment are accessible, immediately sounding the alarm and calling 911 if fire is detected, and recording every patrol round in a written fire watch log for your fire marshal and insurance carrier.
How long does a fire watch have to continue?
A fire watch must continue until the impaired system is fully restored and tested, or until the Authority Having Jurisdiction releases you from the requirement. For hot work, the watch continues during the work and for at least 30 minutes afterward many jurisdictions require 60 minutes. Some impairments last a few hours; others run for weeks during construction or major repairs.
How quickly can you deploy fire watch guards in Miami?
We respond to every request within 2 hours and deploy licensed fire watch guards within 4 hours anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward or Monroe County 24 hours a day, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call our emergency line at (305) 216-1818.
How much do fire watch services cost?
Fire watch is billed hourly, based on the number of officers, coverage hours, shift timing and how long the impairment lasts. Emergency same-day and overnight coverage costs more than scheduled daytime coverage. You’ll get a clear hourly rate on your first call no hidden fees and no long-term contract required.
Do you provide a fire watch log for the fire marshal?
Yes. Our officers maintain a written fire watch log from the first round recording times, patrol routes, officer names and observations. Logs are available to your fire marshal, insurance carrier and property management at any time, and are handed over at the end of the assignment.
Is a fire watch required if my sprinkler system is shut off?
In most cases, yes. NFPA 25 requires a fire watch when a water-based fire protection system is impaired beyond the permitted window commonly 10 hours within a 24-hour period, and shorter in many occupancies. Your local fire marshal has final authority, and we’re happy to speak with them directly to confirm what your property needs.
What's the difference between a fire watch and a fire guard?
The terms are used interchangeably in most of the country. “Fire watch” describes the activity continuous patrol while a system is impaired and “fire guard” or “fire watch guard” describes the officer performing it. In Florida, fire watch is carried out by licensed security officers trained in fire watch duties and documentation.
Do you provide fire watch for construction sites and hot work?
Yes. We provide construction site fire watch under NFPA 241 for projects where systems aren’t yet operational, and dedicated hot work fire watch standby during welding, cutting and grinding including the mandatory post-work monitoring period.
Are your fire watch officers licensed and insured?
Yes. Almond Tree Security operates under Florida Security Agency License B 3500420 and is fully insured and bonded. Every officer holds a Florida Class D license, completes a 40-hour field training program, and armed officers additionally hold the Class G firearms license.
Can you cover multiple buildings or a large property?
Yes. For large or multi-building properties we assign multiple officers per shift with divided patrol routes, so every area is covered at the interval your AHJ requires. Tell us your square footage and floor count and we’ll recommend the right officer count.
Related Security Services
Construction Site Security
Security Patrol Services
Commercial Security
Fire Watch Dispatch
Get Fire Watch Guards On Site Today.
Call now for immediate dispatch, or send your details and we’ll respond within 2 hours with a rate and arrival time.
Request Fire Watch Service
Urgent requests are answered first or call (305) 216-1818 for immediate dispatch.