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• By - admin
• February 18, 2023
• Security

Whether a shopping mall, retail store, hospital, construction site, or warehouse, whenever there is a fire outbreak, the first person we look for is a fire watch security guard. The guards form the frontline of defense against fire outbreaks and ensure the property, its people, and assets are secure.

Seeing the increased demand for fire watch security guards, it is getting harder to find the best option. While if you are still determining what duties fire watch guards perform and what to expect from them, this guide is for you.

Below we have highlighted a fire watch guard’s prime duties and responsibilities.

What Do Fire Watch Security Guards Do?

As the name suggests, fire watch security guards form the first line of defense against fire outbreaks. The unarmed security guards closely watch the surroundings, exposed flammable liquids, and machinery to identify fire-causing agents.

They perform patrolling and monitoring services prone to fires. The fire watch security guards install fire alarm systems and extinguishers to alert the surroundings about the presence of the fire.

Depending on their duty mode and the industry in which they are performing, the fire watch personnel might need to extinguish small fires until the firefighters arrive.

Fire watch security personnel perform in various industries and areas, including retail stores, warehouses, industrial plants, shopping malls, residential societies, and commercial buildings. 

Their responsibilities significantly vary depending on the company demand, industry type, and employees’ needs.

Fire Watch Job Duties & Responsibilities

Fire watch is a dedicated profession where you must be attentive, physically active, and versatile. Here are the job duties and responsibilities of a fire watch mobile patrol security guard;

• Monitoring and maintaining fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinkler systems when addressing signs of malfunction.
• To identify, address, and report signs of fire hazards to the head supervisors.
• Regularly monitor fire equipment such as lighting systems, locks, and alarms to ensure they are 100% working efficiently.
• Maintaining a close watch to observe unusual activities on the premises, such as deliveries or construction works leading to fire hazards.
• Perform regular fire drills to ensure the working staff understands how to depart the premises during an emergency properly.
• Maintaining a close watch of the exit points to ensure no agents block the departure ways during emergencies.
• Deliver safety advice to visitors and users perform duties, such as museums and library collections.
• They give first assistance to wounded people until firefighters arrive.
• They have hands-on experience with the procedures and facilities for sounding fire alarms during fire outbreaks.
• Ensuring the fire equipment and fire sprinkler systems are readily available when needed.
• Keeping the crowd calm in the panicking situation as it worsens the condition.
• Be prepared with a pre-planned strategy to deal with fire out breaking and keeping the assets secure.
• To maintain a record of the fire-causing agents in the past to prevent the same situation in the future.
• Forward the activity log to the supervisor at the end of the day.
• They need to keep offenders and spectators away from the low-risk areas that can cause fire hazards.
• They need to ensure that only authorized personnel access the low-risk areas.

Fire Watch Job Requirement

If you plan to join a security company to perform security guard services in San Jose, you must understand the job requirement. This section has highlighted the primary job requirement of the fire watch security personnel;

• Certificates & Licenses: A license & certificate are approved by the states for the valid qualification and experience of the applicant. Certificates help fire watch guards gain theoretical knowledge of their duties & responsibilities. A license is a permit to work under authorized organizations.
• Education: The education criterion for a fire watch guard position is not typically strict. It will be ideal if you have a high school diploma or GED. Since fire watch guards are now more in demand, more applicants are interested. Some companies ask for a bachelor’s degree to make hiring criteria strict. 
• Training & Experience: Whether you are applying for a junior fire watch guard position or security officer, you must have completed the basic firearm training. Having 1-2 years of relevant experience will be the cherry on top.
• Physical Fitness & Strength: Being physically fit is a must-have requirement for a security guard. Your medical background should be clear, along with your criminal background. 

Required Skills For A Fire Watch Security Guard

With 1000s of applications for the same position, you will succeed if your resume includes in-demand skills. The must-have skills for fire watch security guards are;

• They must have excellent communication skills to share and discuss ideas and plans.
• Quick reflexes to identify and address fire hazards on time.
• They must be friendly to approach so that customers can easily reach them.
• They should be attentive to noticing suspicious activities in the surroundings.
• Time management skills so they can cope efficiently with the day and night shifts.
• They should have problem-solving skills so they can provide solutions around round-the-clock.
• Teamwork skills so the guards can efficiently share ideas and coordinate. 

The abovementioned skills are a must when hiring a fire watch security guard. These are the primary duties the guards perform. However, you can modify the responsibilities depending on your business niche.