FCTC Fire Behavior and Service Terminology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which class of fire involves flammable liquids such as gasoline or paint thinner?
- Class B (Correct answer)
- Class A
- Class C
- Class D
Correct answer: Class B
Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids and gases, including gasoline, diesel, oil, paint, and propane.
Question 2: 'Flashover' during a building fire occurs when:
- Radiant heat causes all combustible materials in a room to ignite simultaneously (Correct answer)
- A firefighter's protective gear is exposed directly to open flame
- Water applied to a fire instantly converts to steam in the hot gases
- Flames break through a roof creating a vertical column of fire
Correct answer: Radiant heat causes all combustible materials in a room to ignite simultaneously
Flashover is the transition phase where radiant heat from the fire causes all exposed combustible surfaces in a room to reach ignition temperature and ignite simultaneously.
Question 3: The 'two-in, two-out' rule requires that:
- Two firefighters enter a hazardous area together while two remain outside ready to assist (Correct answer)
- Two hose lines must be deployed before any firefighter enters a structure
- Teams alternate entering and exiting every two minutes during interior operations
- Two senior officers must authorize an interior attack before crews advance
Correct answer: Two firefighters enter a hazardous area together while two remain outside ready to assist
The two-in, two-out rule mandates that at least two firefighters enter a hazardous environment together and two standby outside, prepared to rescue them if needed.
Question 4: 'Ventilation' in a firefighting context means:
- Removing heat, smoke, and toxic gases from a structure to improve conditions for firefighters and victims (Correct answer)
- Supplying extra oxygen to a fire area to accelerate combustion and weaken the structure
- Testing air quality inside a building before authorizing crew entry
- Cooling a structure by flooding it with water after the fire is extinguished
Correct answer: Removing heat, smoke, and toxic gases from a structure to improve conditions for firefighters and victims
Ventilation involves creating openings in a structure to allow heat, smoke, and combustion gases to escape, improving visibility and reducing temperatures for interior crews.
Question 5: A 'back draft' is most likely to occur when:
- Fresh oxygen enters a superheated, oxygen-depleted space, causing explosive ignition of accumulated gases (Correct answer)
- Strong winds force flames to reverse direction through an open doorway
- Water is suddenly applied to a fire involving energized electrical equipment
- An SCBA regulator reverses airflow during interior operations
Correct answer: Fresh oxygen enters a superheated, oxygen-depleted space, causing explosive ignition of accumulated gases
A back draft results when oxygen is suddenly introduced into an oxygen-depleted, superheated space, causing the accumulated combustible gases to ignite explosively.
Question 6: In fire behavior, heat transfer by 'conduction' occurs through:
- Direct physical contact between materials (Correct answer)
- Moving currents of heated air or gases
- Electromagnetic radiation traveling through space
- Water carrying heat away from the fire source
Correct answer: Direct physical contact between materials
Conduction is heat transfer through direct contact, such as heat traveling through a metal door handle or structural steel beam.
Question 7: The three elements of the 'fire triangle' are:
- Fuel, heat, and oxygen (Correct answer)
- Fuel, heat, and carbon dioxide
- Oxygen, nitrogen, and heat
- Water, fuel, and ignition source
Correct answer: Fuel, heat, and oxygen
The fire triangle represents the three requirements for combustion: fuel (combustible material), heat (energy to sustain ignition), and oxygen (oxidizer).
FCTC Fire Behavior and Service Terminology 2
Which class of fire involves flammable liquids such as gasoline or paint thinner?