What Does a Fire Warden Do?
Fire wardens are the first line of response in a workplace fire emergency. Their role is not to fight fires — it is to ensure that everyone in their designated area evacuates safely and that the building is properly accounted for. During a fire alarm or drill, a fire warden will:
- Direct occupants to leave immediately via designated escape routes
- Carry out a sweep of their designated area — checking toilets, meeting rooms, and other enclosed spaces for anyone who has not evacuated
- Ensure fire doors are closed as they leave (where it is safe to do so) to limit fire spread
- Proceed to the assembly point and report to the chief fire warden or incident controller
- Account for all persons known to be in their area, including visitors and contractors
- Liaise with the fire and rescue service on arrival to provide information on persons unaccounted for
Who Must Appoint Fire Wardens?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to "appoint one or more competent persons to implement [fire safety] procedures" — this is the legal basis for the fire warden role. The fire risk assessment should identify the number of fire wardens needed based on the size of the premises, number of occupants, shift patterns, and the findings of any previous fire drills.
BS 9999 recommends a ratio of approximately one warden per floor in low-risk premises; the ratio should increase in high-occupancy or high-risk environments. There must be sufficient coverage at all times the building is occupied — including early mornings, evenings, and weekends where shift patterns require it.
Fire Warden Training
Fire wardens must be trained to a level appropriate to their role and the risk of the premises. A typical fire warden training course covers:
- The basics of fire behaviour and how fire spreads
- The fire warden's duties under the RRO
- How to recognise the signs of a genuine alarm versus a fault
- Evacuation procedures — directing occupants, sweeping, closing fire doors
- Accounting for occupants at the assembly point
- How to use a fire extinguisher safely (introductory awareness, not full training)
- Communicating with the fire and rescue service
Training should be refreshed regularly — typically every one to three years, or sooner if there are significant changes to the premises, its use, or its occupancy. The BFC offers fire warden training through its member network.
Fire Warden vs. Chief Fire Warden
In larger premises, a chief fire warden (or incident controller) is typically designated to take overall command of the evacuation, receive reports from individual fire wardens, and liaise directly with the fire and rescue service on arrival. The chief fire warden coordinates the response; individual wardens manage their designated zones.
