FE FE Emergency Response & Extinguisher Selection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which fire extinguisher agent is recommended for a Class K commercial kitchen fire involving hot cooking oils?
- ABC dry chemical
- CO2
- Wet chemical (potassium acetate/citrate solution) (Correct answer)
- Water mist
Correct answer: Wet chemical (potassium acetate/citrate solution)
Wet chemical agents (Class K) are specifically designed for high-temperature cooking oil fires, creating a soap-like layer that cools and suppresses the fire.
Question 2: A technician is selecting an extinguisher for a server room. Which agent is preferred to minimize equipment damage?
- ABC dry chemical
- Water
- CO2 or clean agent (Halotron/FM-200) (Correct answer)
- AFFF foam
Correct answer: CO2 or clean agent (Halotron/FM-200)
CO2 and clean agents leave no residue, making them ideal for sensitive electronic equipment where dry chemical or water damage would be catastrophic.
Question 3: Which class of fire extinguisher is required to carry an electrical non-conductivity rating?
- Class A only
- Class B only
- Class C (any extinguisher used on energized electrical equipment) (Correct answer)
- Class D only
Correct answer: Class C (any extinguisher used on energized electrical equipment)
Class C rated extinguishers must use non-conductive agents (CO2, dry chemical, clean agent) and are tested to ensure they won't conduct electricity back to the user.
Question 4: What action should be taken first upon discovering a small fire before using a fire extinguisher?
- Immediately discharge the extinguisher
- Activate the building fire alarm and ensure occupants are evacuating (Correct answer)
- Call the manufacturer's service hotline
- Move combustible materials away from the fire
Correct answer: Activate the building fire alarm and ensure occupants are evacuating
Activating the alarm and initiating evacuation are the top priorities — life safety comes before fire suppression attempts.
Question 5: For a Class D combustible metal fire involving magnesium, which extinguisher should be used?
- ABC dry chemical
- CO2
- Water
- Dry powder specifically rated for the metal involved (e.g., Met-L-X) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dry powder specifically rated for the metal involved (e.g., Met-L-X)
Class D fires require a dry powder agent specifically matched to the burning metal — using the wrong agent can make the fire worse.
Question 6: What is the UL rating system used to communicate the firefighting capability of a portable extinguisher?
- A numerical code indicating gallons of agent
- A letter-number rating (e.g., 2A:10B:C) where the number indicates extinguishing potential (Correct answer)
- A color band indicating hazard class only
- A weight-based code indicating agent mass
Correct answer: A letter-number rating (e.g., 2A:10B:C) where the number indicates extinguishing potential
The UL rating uses a letter for fire class and a number (for A and B) representing comparative extinguishing potential on standardized test fires.
FE FE Emergency Response & Extinguisher Selection 1
Which fire extinguisher agent is recommended for a Class K commercial kitchen fire involving hot cooking oils?