A "fire watch" is defined as a Borough-ordered temporary measure
intended to ensure continuous and systematic surveillance of a building
or portion thereof, by one or more qualified individuals, for the
purpose of controlling fire and maintaining life safety.
A fire watch may be ordered by the Fire Official or their designee
under the following circumstances:
A. Required fire protection systems are impaired or out of service;
B. A fire watch is requested by the building owner, tenant, or lessee;
C. Public and private events where 100 people or more are in attendance;
D. The presence of an imminent hazard as defined by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.16;
F. All other situations deemed necessary by the Fire Official or their
assigned designee.
Fire watches shall be performed by employees of the Borough
of Franklin Lakes Fire Prevention Bureau and qualified members of
the Fire Department. Other qualified individuals may be utilized at
the discretion of the Fire Official. Any individuals used for the
purposes of a fire watch shall report directly to the Fire Official
or their assigned designee.
The Fire Official or their designee shall stipulate the terms
of the fire watch to include staffing, equipment needs, and back-up
fire protection based on each situation. Fire watch responsibilities
will include the following:
A. Notifying the Fire Department and building occupants to an emergency;
C. Surveillance of the property;
E. Extinguishment of fires; and
F. Mitigation of hazards to life and property.
All fire watch services deemed necessary by the Fire Official
or their designee shall be paid at the rate of $40 per hour per person,
and there shall be a minimum payment of four hours per person plus
an administration fee of 15%. Additionally, there will be a fee of
$75 for the use of a regular Borough motor vehicle and a fee of $100
per hour for the use of each Borough fire apparatus. All payments
for this service shall be made to the Borough of Franklin Lakes within
10 days after the service is provided.