Fire Safety Basic Fire Safety Knowledge 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which gas produced by fires is known as the 'silent killer' because it is odorless and colorless?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
- Carbon monoxide (CO) (Correct answer)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Correct answer: Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, making it undetectable without a detector, and it causes more fire-related deaths than flames.
Question 2: What is the meaning of the term 'flashover' in a structural fire?
- When fire jumps from one building to another
- The rapid transition where all combustible materials in a room ignite simultaneously (Correct answer)
- A small burst of flame from a gas leak
- When a fire alarm goes off without an actual fire
Correct answer: The rapid transition where all combustible materials in a room ignite simultaneously
Flashover is the near-simultaneous ignition of all combustibles in an enclosed space, typically occurring when temperatures reach 1,100°F (593°C).
Question 3: What should you do with a fire extinguisher after using it partially to fight a fire?
- Store it back in its normal location for future use
- Have it refilled or replaced immediately (Correct answer)
- Mark it with a tag and reuse it if it still has pressure
- Dispose of it and order a replacement within 30 days
Correct answer: Have it refilled or replaced immediately
Even a partially discharged extinguisher must be recharged or replaced immediately because you cannot know if it will work adequately in the next emergency.
Question 4: In a high-rise building fire, occupants on unaffected floors are typically instructed to:
- Immediately evacuate using stairwells
- Use elevators to reach the lobby faster
- Shelter in place unless directed otherwise by fire safety personnel (Correct answer)
- Move to the roof for helicopter rescue
Correct answer: Shelter in place unless directed otherwise by fire safety personnel
High-rise fire protocols often call for shelter-in-place on unaffected floors because stairwells can become overcrowded and smoke conditions may be worse below.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'fire triangle'?
- Three types of fire departments: local, state, and federal
- The three elements needed for fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen (Correct answer)
- Three phases of fire: ignition, growth, and decay
- A triangular arrangement of fire extinguishers required by code
Correct answer: The three elements needed for fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen
The fire triangle represents the three essential elements for combustion: fuel, heat, and oxygen — removing any one element extinguishes the fire.
Question 6: What is the safest way to exit a burning building if the stairwell is filled with smoke?
- Use the elevator to skip smoke-filled floors
- Crawl low to the floor where air is cleaner and use an alternate stairwell (Correct answer)
- Break a window and jump if below the third floor
- Wait for the smoke to clear before moving
Correct answer: Crawl low to the floor where air is cleaner and use an alternate stairwell
Crawling keeps you below the heaviest smoke concentration, and seeking an alternate stairwell avoids committing to an impassable route.
Question 7: According to NFPA 1, what is the maximum travel distance to a portable fire extinguisher for Class A hazards in most occupancies?
- 50 feet
- 75 feet (Correct answer)
- 100 feet
- 150 feet
Correct answer: 75 feet
NFPA 1 requires that portable fire extinguishers for Class A hazards be accessible within a maximum travel distance of 75 feet.
Fire Safety Basic Fire Safety Knowledge 5
Which gas produced by fires is known as the 'silent killer' because it is odorless and colorless?