Emergency Fire Watch Deployment — High-Rise Residential Building, Navy Yard (M St SE) Washington DC

Background

Late on a Friday evening, a large multi-building property along N Street NE in Washington DC’s NoMa neighborhood experienced a fire-alarm system failure following a security incident.  The property management team knew they had to have fire watch service.  They needed compliant fire watch security guards on site within hours.  However, they could only use providers listed as approved vendors under their corporate policy.

After contacting several approved vendors who were unable to respond, the client reached out to Urgent Security & Fire Watch. Leveraging our network of pre-vetted, approved vendor partners, we coordinated full fire-watch coverage within hours, providing qualified officers under our direct management and oversight.

Challenge

On a Saturday evening at 7:00 PM, the DC Fire Marshal required immediate, continuous fire watch coverage for safety compliance.
The challenge: mobilize a trained, supervised team quickly, maintain round-the-clock oversight, and ensure seamless compliance throughout the operation.

Approach

• Rapid Deployment: Within two hours of the initial call, seven trained fire-watch officers were deployed and on-site by 9:00 PM. 
• Dedicated Leadership: A senior team leader was assigned to oversee operations 24/7 at no additional charge, coordinating the larger team and ensuring accountability.
• Live Monitoring: Patrol tracking systems were implemented to monitor all guard activities in real time.
• Quality Assurance: Manual audits of logs were performed regularly to verify compliance with DC Fire Code and NFPA standards.
• Clear Communication: Customized fire-watch instructions were reviewed with each officer prior to assignment; daily briefings reinforced expectations and safety procedures.
• Active Supervision: Field supervisors conducted frequent site visits to verify performance, ensure safety, and maintain communication with building management.
  

duration and oversight

• Fire watch began Saturday evening and continued 24/7 for four consecutive weeks.
• All Fire Marshal inspections during this period were passed without issue.
• No coverage gaps or performance issues occurred during the entire assignment.
  

the results

• Full compliance maintained throughout the four-week service.
• Zero missed shifts; officers remained alert and documented all patrols accurately.
• Smooth communication and billing (net 30 terms).
• Official termination of fire watch approved by Fire Marshal upon system restoration.
  

Account Management

Rudo Robinson, was the Urgent Security Account Manager assigned to this fire watch project.  He worked closely with property management from start to finish.  He drafted the fire-watch plan, secured the Fire Marshal's approval, and ensuring daily reporting and communication throughout the project.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates rapid, professional, and fully compliant fire-watch service for a large residential property.
Through proactive supervision, detailed reporting, and 24/7 reliability, Urgent Security ensured safety and compliance while giving property management complete peace of mind.