Key points:
- Firewatch is more than a compliance measure, it’s a proactive approach to a range of costly risks.
- Colorado released new fire-related Bills, fire codes, and regulations in 2026 that may change your compliance requirements.
- Even when below compliance requirements, many businesses dispatch fire monitors for risk mitigation.
Dispatching fire watch security is more than a matter of compliance. Staffing trained and certified professionals provides a range of benefits. So much so that many Denver businesses dispatch monitoring proactively before the downtime window. Your employees, tenants, and guests rely on you to keep them safe. Your monitor reduces risk and demonstrates your dedication to safety.
A range of new fire codes and insurance protocols were released in Colorado at the beginning of 2026. Changes include EV charging protocols, wildfire risk score transparency, and electronic logs. If you haven’t yet, hire a third-party risk assessor to determine how these new regulations impact you. In many cases, uncertified employees can no longer complete firewatch, and your downtime window may be reduced.
1. Reduced Insurance Premiums for Landlords
An exciting change for landlords of single-family rentals and multi-family residential buildings is that dispatching fire monitoring may reduce your insurance premiums. HB 25-1182 essentially rewards property owners for providing proof of their property-specific and community risk mitigation efforts.
This new Bill centers heavily around wildfire risk score transparency. Any documentation that proves your safety measures lowers (or maintains) your annual risk score. The lower your risk, the higher your insurance incentive.
2. Reduced Liability
Even if you have a trained and certified employee on staff, or staffing an uncertified employee is within compliance, a certified professional reduces your liability. A full-time expert has more experience than someone you trained as a proactive response. They’re also an impartial third-party who are more likely to identify hazards and provide early detection.
Fire Watch Security Does More Than “Watch”
“Watch” is in the name, but fire guards are certified to look, listen, and smell for signs of gas leak, ignition, smoke, fire, and other risk factors.
3. Undeniable Proof of Monitoring
When an incident occurs, paper logs are notoriously unreliable. They don’t guarantee proof of compliance with fire code, OSHA, or insurance policies. As such, paper documentation doesn’t always hold up in court.
Transitioning to electronic logs changes everything:
- Biometric verification (iris, fingerprint, or facial recognition) verifies who the monitor is.
- The apps and technology used are tamper-proof. Unlike paper logs, there is no way to fill out the logs after the fact.
- GPS or QR codes verify the patrol route in real-time or after the fact. Systems with checkpoints have timestamps.
4. Operational Continuity
Preventing and responding to minor issues before they escalate reduces your risk of loss caused by fire or an incident. Without compliant monitoring, you can be fined or shut down by the Fire Marshal. If you’re not shut down, you’ll be assigned an off-duty firefighter as your monitor for a minimum of $250 per hour per firefighter.
Read more:
- Fire Safety Protocols for Torch Down Roofing
- Fire Monitoring Protocols for Mixed-Use Buildings
- On-Call Marijuana Cultivation Facility Fire Guards
- Spring and Summer Festival Fire Safety
5. Compliant Monitoring Saves Lives
Most importantly, a trained and tenured monitor identifies and resolves risks without delay. They also detect fire faster than an untrained employee. This saves lives, protects property, minimizes inventory loss, and demonstrates your dedication to safety.
Fire Watch Security in Denver and The Springs
Scout Security provides both standard security guards and certified fire watch security guards. We’re the third-party partner of choice for proactive commercial businesses and residential property owners.
Dispatch our team for 24/7 emergency response, or preschedule us for hot work, repairs, and water main disruptions. Book now or add us to your emergency response list.
