FLSD Fire Emergency Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A tenant calls the fire command station to report smoke coming from under a closed office door on the 8th floor. No alarm has activated. What is the FLSD's first action?
- Wait for the alarm system to activate before taking any action
- Call 9-1-1, initiate investigation, and prepare for possible evacuation (Correct answer)
- Send a maintenance worker to open the door and investigate
- Announce a building-wide evacuation immediately
Correct answer: Call 9-1-1, initiate investigation, and prepare for possible evacuation
A report of smoke is a life-safety threat requiring immediate notification of 9-1-1 and preparation for evacuation, even without an alarm activation.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a pre-fire plan for a high-rise building?
- A document listing the building owner's insurance coverage details
- A document provided to the fire department detailing building layout, hazards, and emergency systems (Correct answer)
- A marketing plan for fire safety equipment vendors
- A schedule for annual fire drills only
Correct answer: A document provided to the fire department detailing building layout, hazards, and emergency systems
A pre-fire plan gives responding firefighters critical information about building layout, occupancy, hazards, and the location of fire protection systems.
Question 3: During a building evacuation, an occupant tells a floor warden they smell natural gas near the stairwell. The floor warden relays this to the FLSD. What is the correct response?
- Ignore the report since the fire alarm has not activated a gas-related alert
- Notify the fire department, avoid the stairwell if possible, and select an alternate egress route (Correct answer)
- Direct occupants to use that stairwell since gas rises and the lower floors are safe
- Have maintenance shut off the gas before continuing evacuation
Correct answer: Notify the fire department, avoid the stairwell if possible, and select an alternate egress route
A gas odor is a serious hazard; the fire department must be notified and an alternate egress route used to avoid potential ignition sources.
Question 4: What is the FLSD required to document after every fire drill?
- Only the names of occupants who did not participate
- Date, time, building areas involved, number of participants, deficiencies noted, and corrective actions (Correct answer)
- Total cost of the drill to submit for insurance reimbursement
- A list of fire extinguishers inspected during the drill
Correct answer: Date, time, building areas involved, number of participants, deficiencies noted, and corrective actions
Drill records must capture comprehensive data including deficiencies and corrective actions to satisfy regulatory requirements and improve future performance.
Question 5: A sprinkler head discharges in an unoccupied storage room on a weekend with no fire detected. What should the on-duty FLSD do first?
- Shut off the main water supply to the entire building immediately
- Investigate the discharge location, notify 9-1-1, and contact building management (Correct answer)
- Wait until Monday to report the incident to avoid unnecessary alarm
- Reset the fire alarm panel and resume normal operations
Correct answer: Investigate the discharge location, notify 9-1-1, and contact building management
An unexpected sprinkler discharge requires investigation for a potential hidden fire, immediate notification of 9-1-1, and escalation to building management.
Question 6: Under New York City fire code, how often must a high-rise office building conduct fire evacuation drills?
- Once every five years
- Twice per year, with at least one occurring during business hours (Correct answer)
- Monthly
- Only when directed by the fire department
Correct answer: Twice per year, with at least one occurring during business hours
NYC Fire Code requires high-rise office buildings to conduct fire drills at least twice per year, with at least one drill held during normal business hours.
Question 7: A fire emergency occurs and the primary stairwell designated for evacuation is blocked by heavy smoke. What should the FLSD instruct floor wardens to do?
- Have occupants wait in the smoke-filled stairwell until the fire department clears it
- Direct occupants to use an alternate egress stairwell and notify the fire department of the blocked stairwell (Correct answer)
- Allow occupants to use the elevator since the stairwell is unusable
- Instruct occupants to return to their offices and shelter in place indefinitely
Correct answer: Direct occupants to use an alternate egress stairwell and notify the fire department of the blocked stairwell
Alternate stairwells must be used when the primary route is compromised, and the fire department must be informed immediately of the blocked egress path.
FLSD Fire Emergency Procedures 5
A tenant calls the fire command station to report smoke coming from under a closed office door on the 8th floor.
No alarm has activated.
What is the FLSD's first action?