AB Firefighting and Emergency Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a fire emergency, what is the primary purpose of boundary cooling?
- To extinguish the fire directly
- To prevent fire from spreading to adjacent compartments (Correct answer)
- To cool fire-fighting personnel
- To reduce smoke in passageways
Correct answer: To prevent fire from spreading to adjacent compartments
Boundary cooling involves applying water to bulkheads, decks, and doors surrounding a fire to prevent heat transfer and spread.
Question 2: What type of fire extinguisher should NEVER be used on a Class C (electrical) fire?
- CO2 extinguisher
- Dry chemical extinguisher
- Water extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Halon extinguisher
Correct answer: Water extinguisher
Water conducts electricity and can cause electrocution or equipment damage when used on energized electrical fires.
Question 3: When donning a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), the facepiece seal must be checked by:
- Spraying water on the mask
- Performing a positive and negative pressure test (Correct answer)
- Observing the pressure gauge reads full
- Asking a shipmate to inspect the straps
Correct answer: Performing a positive and negative pressure test
Positive and negative pressure seal checks confirm the facepiece is airtight before entering a hazardous atmosphere.
Question 4: Which agent is used in a foam fire extinguisher and works by forming a blanket over burning liquids?
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide
- Monoammonium phosphate
Correct answer: Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)
AFFF creates a film over liquid fuel surfaces that prevents vapors from escaping and reaching ignition sources.
Question 5: What is 'backdraft' in firefighting terminology?
- Air rushing into a fire from ventilation openings
- A sudden explosive ignition when oxygen is introduced to a smoldering, oxygen-depleted fire (Correct answer)
- The backflow of water through a fire hose
- Smoke being pushed back down a ventilation duct
Correct answer: A sudden explosive ignition when oxygen is introduced to a smoldering, oxygen-depleted fire
Backdraft occurs when a smoldering fire in an oxygen-starved space suddenly receives fresh air, causing rapid ignition or explosion.
Question 6: Under SOLAS, what is the minimum number of fire pumps required on cargo ships of 1,000 GT or more?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
SOLAS requires at least two independently powered fire pumps on cargo ships of 1,000 GT or more.
Question 7: A fire hose nozzle set to a fog pattern is most useful for:
- Reaching fires at long range
- Protecting firefighters from radiant heat (Correct answer)
- Penetrating deep into cargo stacks
- Extinguishing Class D metal fires
Correct answer: Protecting firefighters from radiant heat
A fog or spray pattern creates a water curtain that absorbs radiant heat, protecting personnel advancing toward a fire.
AB Firefighting and Emergency Procedures 3
During a fire emergency, what is the primary purpose of boundary cooling?