fire watcher

noun

variants or less commonly fire-watcher

ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌwä-chər 

or firewatcher

plural fire watchers also fire-watchers or firewatchers

: a person who is responsible for the early detection of fire: such as

a

: someone who specializes in detecting aerial attacks

Fire watchers had to monitor the skyline, alert the fire service to any blazes they did spot, and in some cases had to smother bombs with sandbags and extinguish fires.

—Kirstie Waterston

In the Second World War, women took part in Air Raid Precautions. … More than 144,000 served with the emergency casualty services, while thousands more acted as fire watchers at businesses and factories.

—Charlie Furniss

b

: someone responsible for detecting and reporting forest fires

When the first wisp of smoke rose through the chimney of mountain flora, at least two of the fire-watchers pointed their compasses and plotted the direction on their maps. … That's when the call went forth to the nearest fire warden …

—James J. Hall

Lookout construction became a priority in 1910, one of the worst forest-fire years on record. … Around 1914, structures in which fire watchers could live were introduced.

—Susan Spano

Despite a wet and cool spring in much of western Oregon, the state is still poised to see a potentially "challenging" wildfire season this summer, one of the state's top fire watchers said Monday.

—Kale Williams

c

: one who monitors a working facility having a high risk of combustion

If welding within 35 ft of flammable materials, have a firewatcher observe where sparks are flying and have an extinguisher or alarm handy.

—Ken Brown

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above