FLSD Non-Fire Emergency Response 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A bomb threat is received by phone at the building's main reception desk. After calling 911, what should the FLSD do regarding evacuation?
- Always perform a full building evacuation immediately
- Follow the decision of law enforcement on whether to evacuate (Correct answer)
- Never evacuate during a bomb threat to avoid triggering the device
- Evacuate only the floor where the threat originated
Correct answer: Follow the decision of law enforcement on whether to evacuate
The decision to evacuate during a bomb threat is made in consultation with law enforcement, who assess credibility and risk factors before advising the FLSD.
Question 2: Which document should the FLSD consult when an occupant requires special evacuation assistance during a non-fire emergency?
- The Certificate of Occupancy
- The Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan (FSEP) (Correct answer)
- The building's lease agreements
- The OSHA 300 log
Correct answer: The Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan (FSEP)
The FSEP contains the list of occupants requiring evacuation assistance and the procedures to support them during any type of emergency.
Question 3: During a severe weather event with a tornado warning, high-rise occupants should be directed to:
- Evacuate to street level immediately
- Move to the roof for better structural protection
- Move to interior rooms on lower floors away from windows (Correct answer)
- Shelter in place on their current floor near windows to monitor conditions
Correct answer: Move to interior rooms on lower floors away from windows
Interior rooms on lower floors are the safest shelter-in-place location as they minimize exposure to flying debris and structural wind loads.
Question 4: An elevator malfunction traps occupants between floors. What is the FLSD's role in this non-fire emergency?
- Force open the elevator doors using available tools
- Contact the elevator mechanic and keep occupants calm via intercom until help arrives (Correct answer)
- Manually lower the elevator cab to the nearest floor
- Evacuate the building until the elevator is repaired
Correct answer: Contact the elevator mechanic and keep occupants calm via intercom until help arrives
The FLSD coordinates the response by contacting the elevator mechanic and maintaining communication with trapped occupants to prevent panic.
Question 5: A suspected anthrax letter is opened in a tenant's office on the 22nd floor. What is the IMMEDIATE first action?
- Evacuate the entire building through the stairwells
- Isolate the room, minimize movement of exposed persons, and call 911 and NYPD (Correct answer)
- Place the letter in a plastic bag and bring it to the Fire Control Room
- Activate the fire suppression system to decontaminate the area
Correct answer: Isolate the room, minimize movement of exposed persons, and call 911 and NYPD
Isolating the affected area and restricting movement of exposed individuals limits potential spread, while 911 and NYPD/HAZMAT must be notified for proper decontamination response.
Question 6: Which type of non-fire emergency requires the FLSD to coordinate a 'shelter-in-place' response rather than an evacuation?
- A structural fire on an upper floor
- A hazardous material release outside the building (Correct answer)
- A gas leak inside the building mechanical room
- A bomb threat with a confirmed suspicious package inside
Correct answer: A hazardous material release outside the building
An external hazmat release makes the outdoors more dangerous than remaining inside, so shelter-in-place with sealed HVAC intakes is the appropriate response.
Question 7: After a non-fire emergency has been resolved by responding agencies, what is the FLSD required to do before allowing full occupant re-entry?
- Conduct a personal visual inspection of the entire building
- Receive an all-clear from the incident commander of the responding agency (Correct answer)
- Call the building owner for permission to reopen
- Reset all fire alarm panels to confirm system integrity
Correct answer: Receive an all-clear from the incident commander of the responding agency
The incident commander of the responding agency (police, HAZMAT, EMS, etc.) holds authority over the scene and must formally release the building before re-entry.
FLSD Non-Fire Emergency Response 5
A bomb threat is received by phone at the building's main reception desk.
After calling 911, what should the FLSD do regarding evacuation?