Fire Safety Residential Fire Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which material should NEVER be used to smother a grease fire on the stovetop?
- A metal lid
- A fire blanket
- Water (Correct answer)
- Baking soda
Correct answer: Water
Water causes grease fires to violently explode and spread because steam instantly forms and disperses burning oil.
Question 2: What is the recommended minimum clearance between a space heater and combustible materials?
- 1 foot
- 3 feet (Correct answer)
- 5 feet
- 10 feet
Correct answer: 3 feet
The NFPA recommends keeping all combustible items at least 3 feet away from space heaters to prevent ignition.
Question 3: When planning a home fire escape route, how many exits should each room ideally have?
- One — the main door
- At least two — a primary and a secondary (Correct answer)
- Three — door, window, and emergency hatch
- It depends on the room size
Correct answer: At least two — a primary and a secondary
Every room should have at least two escape routes — typically the door and a window — in case one is blocked by fire.
Question 4: What does the 'PASS' acronym stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Point, Activate, Spray, Stop
- Prepare, Aim, Spray, Secure
- Pull, Approach, Spray, Step back
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side — the standard extinguisher technique.
Question 5: Which home feature significantly reduces the risk of death in a residential fire?
- Hardwood floors
- A home sprinkler system (Correct answer)
- Brick exterior walls
- Double-pane windows
Correct answer: A home sprinkler system
Home fire sprinkler systems reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by about 80% according to NFPA research.
Question 6: If you are trapped in a room during a home fire, what should you do to the door before opening it?
- Open it quickly to escape before smoke fills the room
- Feel it with the back of your hand for heat before opening (Correct answer)
- Lock it to prevent fire from spreading to your room
- Barricade it with furniture to stop smoke
Correct answer: Feel it with the back of your hand for heat before opening
Feeling the door with the back of your hand checks for heat on the other side — if hot, opening it could expose you to a flashover.
Question 7: What is the primary reason homeowners should clean their chimney annually?
- To improve heating efficiency
- To remove creosote buildup that can ignite and cause a chimney fire (Correct answer)
- To prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home
- To comply with local building codes
Correct answer: To remove creosote buildup that can ignite and cause a chimney fire
Creosote, a byproduct of burning wood, accumulates in chimneys and is highly flammable — annual cleaning removes this fire hazard.
Fire Safety Residential Fire Safety 5
Which material should NEVER be used to smother a grease fire on the stovetop?