Portable Fire Extinguishers Flashcards

After using a CO2 extinguisher in a small enclosed room, the primary hazard to personnel remaining in the space is:

Answer: Oxygen depletion in the confined space

CO2 displaces oxygen and can reduce concentrations to dangerous or fatal levels in confined spaces, so personnel must evacuate immediately after discharge.

A fireguard discovers a fire that has grown well beyond the initial incipient stage. The correct action is to:

Answer: Activate the fire alarm, evacuate occupants, and call 911 without attempting to fight the fire

When a fire has grown beyond the incipient stage, a portable extinguisher is unlikely to be effective — activate alarms, evacuate, and call 911 immediately.

Which of the following extinguisher types is considered obsolete and must be removed from service?

Answer: Soda-acid extinguisher

Soda-acid extinguishers are obsolete, no longer manufactured, and must be removed from service and replaced with currently listed extinguishers.

A portable fire extinguisher should NOT be used when:

Answer: Your back is not toward a safe exit or the exit is blocked by the fire

You must always position yourself between the fire and a clear exit before operating an extinguisher — if the exit is blocked by fire, evacuate immediately.

What is the correct action when a dry chemical extinguisher is found to have a cracked or broken hose during inspection?

Answer: Remove it from service immediately and tag it for repair or replacement

Any extinguisher with physical damage such as a cracked hose must be immediately removed from service, as damaged components can cause the unit to fail in an emergency.

When operating a dry chemical extinguisher on a Class B flammable liquid fire, the operator should:

Answer: Sweep the agent from side to side starting at the near edge of the fire

For Class B fires, aim at the near edge and sweep side to side to push the extinguishing agent across the burning liquid surface and cut off the oxygen supply.

In a building protected by an automatic sprinkler system, portable fire extinguishers are:

Answer: Still required in addition to the sprinkler system

Portable fire extinguishers are required by NFPA 10 and the NYC Fire Code regardless of sprinkler protection, as they provide immediate first-response capability before sprinklers activate.