California’s wildfire season has arrived. Residents are encouraged to keep up with the latest reports on active fires and learn the basics about fire watch security guards and their crucial role in safeguarding personnel and property during periods of heightened fire risk. If you manage a facility or conduct “Hot Work” outdoors, fire watch may be needed in the coming weeks. You’ll want to connect with a reliable fire watch partner in advance to ensure the safety and productivity of your operations.
Local authorities and fire marshals will be extra vigilant during periods of increased wildfire risk. Fire code violators could face steep fines, facility shutdowns, or catastrophic fire damage. Organizations in California need to know the essentials for protecting their communities – how to prevent the spread of embers, conduct “Hot Work” safely, and deploy fire watch security guards when needed.
Wildfire News from the Golden State
At the time of this article’s writing, CAL FIRE reports 1,769 active wildfires across California. These include four fires affecting 100 acres or more, centered on San Bernardino, Kern, and Sacramento counties. National Firewatch wishes improved safety conditions for all communities affected, and appreciates the tireless efforts of first responders who are keeping Californians safe from wildfires every day.
Our head office is in the Bay Area, and we were all relieved to read that the Corral Fire in nearby San Joaquin County has been mostly contained. Officials are still cautioning everyone in the region to beware of embers that may linger. Increasing temperatures in the weeks ahead could dry out the record plant growth we’ve experienced over the past two years. Embers from wildfires – or new ones caused by human activity – have the potential to ignite huge sections of dry vegetation.
The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch the week of this article’s writing. Along Interstate 5 from Redding to Elk Grove, organizations and individual residents are encouraged to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of embers. The fire weather watch is expected to become a general fire warning, with authorities scaling their efforts to crack down on fire code violations that threaten communities.
Organizations face dual pressures during times of elevated fire risk. As good-faith community members, everyone wants to do their part to prevent the spread of wildfires. On the other hand, deadlines and project management schedules may not easily accommodate delays due to fire risk. At times like this, many organizations take shortcuts by operating without the necessary fire safety systems in place. Even minor fire code violations can lead to forced shutdowns, facility evacuations, and the spread of deadly wildfires.
Fire Watch Guards & Fire Code Best Practices
Decision makers at organizations across the Golden State are encouraged to reassess their fire code compliance and fire emergency planning with the approach of fire season. Non-compliance is becoming increasingly costly – to ensure safe and consistent operations, facility managers should:
- Familiarize yourself with the California Building Standards Code
- Understand what actions need to be taken when your building’s fire systems fail
- Read up on NFPA regulations for “Hot Work” that presents a fire risk
- Develop a wildfire evacuation plan for your team
- Partner with a reliable fire watch security company
Even with all the necessary precautions and safety mechanisms in place, fire risk may still escalate. Power outages, damage, or scheduled maintenance could render your building’s fire safety systems inoperable. If those systems are down for more than four hours, fire marshals can order an evacuation of your facility. With the increased wildfire threat in California, authorities will be on the lookout for any violations.
Fire watch guards are required when built-in safety systems suffer an outage. Trained fire watch personnel effectively replace automated systems, patrolling affected areas and notifying stakeholders if fire risks are detected. It’s important to note that NFPA regulations prevent your existing team members from being assigned to fire watch duty. Only trained fire watch security guards can ensure compliance when built-in safety systems fail.
“Hot Work” such as welding, torching, or cutting may also require fire watch guards to be deployed. Normally, these heat-application tasks are done in industrial facilities with the appropriate fire suppression systems built in. When “Hot Work” is done offsite or in any environment that lacks industrial safety systems, fire watch guards are required to supervise the work and mitigate fire risk.
Contact National Firewatch
California’s building owners and operations managers are strongly encouraged to connect with a reliable fire watch security guard company before the fire season progresses. If your building’s fire systems fail, you’ll effectively have a four-hour window to source guards to stay fire code compliant. During periods of increased demand for fire watch services, it may be difficult to connect with a company on short notice. The best way to keep your facility safe and productive at all times is to find a trustworthy fire watch company before guards are needed on site.
National Firewatch has deep roots in the Golden State, with our head office in Contra Costa County and over a decade of local fire watch deployments through our sister company, The Guard Alliance. We can have guards on-site in hours in most of California, and we’ll also work with you to develop a risk management plan based on our assessment of your on-site fire risk. Contact National Firewatch if you need emergency fire watch coverage today, or if you’re interested in planning for the fire season ahead.