Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a high-rise building evacuation, which floors should typically evacuate FIRST?
- The floor on fire and the floors immediately above and below it (Correct answer)
- All floors simultaneously
- The top floors first, working downward
- The ground floor first, working upward
Correct answer: The floor on fire and the floors immediately above and below it
In high-rise evacuations, the fire floor and adjacent floors above and below face the greatest immediate danger and should evacuate first.
Question 2: What should you do if you discover the exit stairwell is filled with smoke during evacuation?
- Return to your floor, close the stairwell door, and seek refuge in a room (Correct answer)
- Push through the smoke quickly to reach the ground floor
- Use the elevator as an alternative route
- Wait in the stairwell for firefighters to arrive
Correct answer: Return to your floor, close the stairwell door, and seek refuge in a room
If a stairwell is smoke-filled, return to your floor, close the door to limit smoke entry, and shelter in place until rescue.
Question 3: An employee uses a wheelchair. What is the recommended procedure when the elevator cannot be used during a fire?
- Move them to a designated area of refuge near a stairwell and notify firefighters of their location (Correct answer)
- Have coworkers carry them down the stairs immediately
- Leave them at their workstation with a fire extinguisher
- Direct them to use the service elevator
Correct answer: Move them to a designated area of refuge near a stairwell and notify firefighters of their location
Persons with mobility impairments should be escorted to an area of refuge where they can safely await trained responders.
Question 4: How should doors be treated when evacuating through a building during a fire?
- Close all doors behind you to slow fire and smoke spread (Correct answer)
- Prop doors open so others can follow quickly
- Leave doors in whatever position they are found
- Only close fire-rated doors, leave others open
Correct answer: Close all doors behind you to slow fire and smoke spread
Closing doors behind you significantly slows the spread of fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and giving survivors more time.
Question 5: What does a steady, non-pulsing fire alarm tone typically indicate compared to a temporal-3 (T-3) pattern?
- A steady tone may signal an alert phase while the T-3 pulse pattern signals evacuation (Correct answer)
- Both patterns mean the same thing — evacuate immediately
- A steady tone means all clear, T-3 means danger
- A steady tone requires shelter-in-place, T-3 requires evacuation only in high-rises
Correct answer: A steady tone may signal an alert phase while the T-3 pulse pattern signals evacuation
Many modern systems use a steady alert tone to warn occupants to prepare while reserving the T-3 pulse to order immediate evacuation.
Question 6: When is it acceptable to re-enter a building after a fire evacuation?
- Only when the fire department or incident commander gives the all-clear (Correct answer)
- When the alarm stops sounding
- After 10 minutes have passed without visible smoke
- When a supervisor decides it is safe
Correct answer: Only when the fire department or incident commander gives the all-clear
Only the fire department or designated incident commander has the authority to declare a building safe for re-entry after a fire emergency.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a building's designated assembly area during a fire evacuation?
- To account for all occupants and ensure no one is left inside (Correct answer)
- To provide shelter from weather while waiting for re-entry
- To serve as a staging area for firefighting equipment
- To allow employees to continue working remotely
Correct answer: To account for all occupants and ensure no one is left inside
Assembly areas allow wardens and managers to take headcounts so any missing persons can be reported to firefighters immediately.
Fire Safety Fire Evacuation Procedures 4
During a high-rise building evacuation, which floors should typically evacuate FIRST?