Any individual or individuals participating in the fire watch shall not have other duties and is responsible for notifying emergency services in the event of a fire or other emergency and to notify any occupants of the situation. 

The deficient system shall be placed in test mode by the responsible party on site until repairs have been made. A written log shall be kept of the fire watch intervals every 30 minutes. 

Businesses that are occupied 24 hours a day will be required to have a fire watch 24 hours a day until the system impairment has been repaired. Fire watches should be limited to 48 hours, at which time a fee of $25 will be charged. Every seven days thereafter the first 48 hours the same fee of $25 will be charged.

Businesses cannot place themselves on fire watch when systems break or are impaired for other issues. Only the authority having jurisdiction may place a business on fire watch for unplanned impairments.

Businesses may be placed on fire watch and placed in test mode for routine maintenance.

If you have any questions about fire watches or wish to be removed from fire watch, please contact the Fire Prevention Bureau during normal business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours, please call the non-emergency dispatch number at (757) 385-5000 and your request will be handled by the duty inspector.

• Fire Watch form