Fires can be deadly for construction workers. It doesn’t take much to turn scaffolding into a deathtrap. Having an assigned fire warden in place who understands the importance of on-site fire drills can greatly increase the chance of getting workers out safely. As a general rule, if a fire cannot be put under control within the first 30 seconds, it is time to leave. Equally important is cutting off oxygen to a fire by closing doors to slow it down. A fire warden knows these things and takes a commanding role creating calm in a chaotic situation. The warden knows when the fire department needs to be brought in and how to disseminate communication to customers, vendors and the media, if necessary.