There’s a grim irony in fires that start on the calmest, most routine days. Take the mid-afternoon in Kelowna last July, when a welding crew was cutting steel supports for a parking structure. They had permits, hard hats, and a full complement of safety gear - but they skipped the designated fire watch to grab coffee after lunch. Twenty minutes later, a smoldering spark nestled itself in a pile of debris under a stairwell, igniting dry wood scraps. Flames licked upward before anyone noticed, leaving a charred ruin that shut down the site for two weeks and cost hundreds of thousands in reconstruction and lost productivity.

That project wasn’t unique: complacency fuels many of the most serious fire incidents on Canadian jobsites. As OHS managers and directors, your mission is to ensure that fire-watch duties aren’t an afterthought, permits are more than paperwork, and emergency plans are living, breathing procedures rather than dusty manuals on a shelf. This article explores the human and technical aspects of fire-watch best practices, the critical role of hot-work permits, and the essentials of emergency readiness, all through the lens of real-world experiences and a distinctly Canadian context.

When Fire Watch Becomes A Safety Watch

In the heat of deadline pressure, it’s easy to view the fire watch as a box to tick off rather than a lifesaving role. But the person bearing that responsibility is one of your most powerful assets. A dedicated fire watcher doesn’t just sit idle with a shovel and extinguisher; they patrol hot-work zones, scan for unseen embers dancing on steel beams, and stand ready to spring into action at the first wisp of smoke.

Picture a sprawling construction site in Edmonton’s mid-spring chill. Despite temperatures under 10 °C, crews use oxy-fuel torches to cut sections of piping. Sparks fly, and a vigilant fire watcher, clad in flame-retardant overalls and armed with an ABC extinguisher, notices glowing embers collecting against the concrete footings. A quick sweep with a fire blanket and a squirt of extinguishing agent stops what could have become a structural footing fire, potentially collapsing the crane that towered overhead.

This scene highlights an essential truth: fire watch is not a passive role but an active, eyes-wide-open vigil. To keep complacency at bay, start each shift with a quick huddle, emphasizing the fire watcher’s judgment as critical. Rotate fire-watch assignments—no one should be stuck in that position all day, or their attention will drift. Pair a junior team member with an experienced supervisor for the first few rotations to mentor proper scanning patterns and patch up any blind spots.

Permits: Beyond the Stamp

Hot-work permits often gather signatures faster than they collect genuine scrutiny. A glance at the permit log - signed, OKayed, filed - can lull even the most seasoned supervisor into believing all safety measures are baked in. But the permit is only as effective as the process that underpins it.

Imagine a renovation team in a heritage building in Québec City. They completed the standard permit form for interior brazing, ticked the “area clear of combustibles” box, and started the torch work. Midway, a spark slipped beneath a rolled-up carpet edge they’d overlooked. By the time the brazing was done, a slow smolder had ignited years-old wood flooring below. The resulting fire forced an evacuation of the historic site, collapsing a century-old ceiling and saddling the contractor with enormous penalties and reputational damage.

The lesson here is stark: a permit must be a process of discovery, not just a checklist. Before any flame meets metal, the team should walk the entire area together—permit writer, fire watcher, and hot-worker - inspecting no-go zones, verifying that fire extinguishers are charged and within reach, and confirming that HVAC and fire-suppression systems are isolated as needed. Encourage permit reviewers to ask probing questions - “What lies beneath that floor? What flies off those sparks?” - and document those answers. Foster an atmosphere where workers feel comfortable pausing work if an unforeseen hazard emerges, even mid-permit.

Emergency Readiness: Drill, Practice, Revise

Emergency plans tucked away in binders help satisfy regulators. But when a blaze erupts, the binder won’t save lives - actions will. Regular, scenario-based drills are your lifeline, training crews on both the expected and the unexpected.

Consider that Winnipeg manufacturing plant where a small hydraulic leak sprayed oil onto a hot motor housing one August afternoon. Before anyone knew it, flames shot up near the machine shop. The team leapt into action, following the steps they’d practiced weekly: sound the alarm, shut down electrical feeds at the main disconnect, initiate the automated sprinkler system, and gather at the designated muster point. The fire was extinguished in under five minutes with minimal damage, thanks to crisp execution born of practice.

To build that reflexive response, tailor drills to each site’s layout and equipment. On multi-story hoisting platforms, practice the “drop tools, descend to landing” routine. In sprawling outdoor quarries, map evacuation routes that avoid haul-truck lanes. Test communication protocols: does the two-way radio reach every corner, or does it fizz out in the steel-wall shadows? After each drill, gather everyone for an “after-action review,” where crew members candidly discuss what worked and where confusion reigned. Update your emergency plan with those insights, then drill again.

The Human Factor: Avoiding Complacency Through Culture

Safety culture thrives where people feel ownership, not mandated compliance. Celebrate fire-watch “saves.” A simple “thank you” or a “Fire Watch Champion” coffee card goes a long way. Share stories in toolbox talks, like the crane-saved-by-fire-watch anecdote - not as scare tactics but as reminders that vigilance is valued and visible.

Senior leaders can model that prioritization by spending an occasional shift riding shotgun with the fire watcher. When frontline teams see management actively engaged in ground-level safety tasks, complacency yields to respect. Encourage “stop work” authority for any worker spotting a potential ignition risk - no retribution, no second-guessing. Over time, these gestures weave a culture where fire prevention is part of everyone’s daily rhythm, not just a box to tick.

A Living Playbook: Maintaining Momentum

Seasonal risk ebbs and flows. In spring, melting snow stirs fuel; summer brings parched grasses; in autumn, falling leaves layer ignition material; and even winter’s propane-heated tent vendors create hotspots. Keep your emergency readiness and fire-watch protocols dynamic. Quarterly reviews—aligned with seasonal shifts—ensure that your processes don’t fossilize.

Harness technology where it makes sense. Digital hot-work permit systems can route approvals, log area inspections with geotagged photos, and timestamp fire-watch start and end times for accountability. Mobile push notifications can remind crews of permit expirations or drill schedules.

Above all, never let complacency sneak in. Celebrate weeks without incidents, but never mistake that lull for invulnerability. The fire triangle - heat, fuel, oxygen - never rests. As temperatures rise, materials dry, and wind picks up, that triangle tightens its grip. Your job is to keep the lid on by ensuring fire watches stay alert, permits drive real inspections, and emergency plans are ingrained muscle memory.

Burned by complacency, through human error, forgotten debris, or a skipped patrol, fires can devastate lives and livelihoods in minutes. But armed with engaged fire watches, robust permit processes, and battle-ready emergency plans, OHS managers can cut through that risk. When you treat fire prevention as a living, evolving practice - not a static mandate - you transform your site from a potential inferno into a model of summer safety. And that, above all, is the heart of your mission: people safe, projects on time, and skills passed on, not ashes left behind.