A fireguard is a metal net, or a low metal fence, that you stand in front of an open fireplace. It is not a person. The job is simple: stop sparks from jumping onto the carpet, and stop a small child or a dog from walking into the fire. British homes with old fireplaces still use them; you do not see them much in Taiwan, where most rooms have no open fire at all. People also say fire screen for something nearby, though a screen can be a pretty panel that hides the fireplace when it is not lit, while a fireguard is there for safety. If there is no fire in the room, there is nothing for a fireguard to do.