USCG Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym PASS stand for when using a portable fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Push, Aim, Shoot, Spray
- Pull, Activate, Squeeze, Sweep
- Prepare, Aim, Squeeze, Spray
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side at the base of the flames.
Question 2: CO2 fire extinguishers are most effective in which environment?
- Open deck fires
- Enclosed spaces where the CO2 concentration can build up (Correct answer)
- Fuel tank fires
- Forest fires
Correct answer: Enclosed spaces where the CO2 concentration can build up
CO2 extinguishers work by displacing oxygen and are most effective in enclosed spaces where the gas concentration can reach levels sufficient to suppress the fire.
Question 3: What is meant by 'boundary cooling' during a shipboard fire?
- Cooling the fire directly with water fog
- Applying water to bulkheads and decks surrounding the fire to prevent spread (Correct answer)
- Using CO2 to cool the fire boundary
- Removing fuel from around the fire
Correct answer: Applying water to bulkheads and decks surrounding the fire to prevent spread
Boundary cooling involves applying water to the metal structures surrounding a fire to prevent heat transfer that could ignite adjacent compartments or spaces.
Question 4: Which firefighting agent is most effective for a Class A (ordinary combustibles) fire?
- CO2
- Foam
- Water (Correct answer)
- Dry chemical
Correct answer: Water
Water is the most effective agent for Class A fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth because it cools the burning material below its ignition temperature.
Question 5: What is an 'Aqueous Film-Forming Foam' (AFFF) used for aboard vessels?
- Suppressing Class A cargo fires
- Suppressing flammable liquid (Class B) fires, especially oil fires (Correct answer)
- Electrical equipment fires
- Fighting fires in cook galley areas
Correct answer: Suppressing flammable liquid (Class B) fires, especially oil fires
AFFF creates a film over flammable liquid surfaces that seals off fuel vapors and cools the surface, making it highly effective for Class B oil and fuel fires common on vessels.
Question 6: Fire drills aboard inspected vessels are required by USCG regulations at what interval?
- Monthly
- Weekly (Correct answer)
- Daily
- Quarterly
Correct answer: Weekly
USCG regulations (46 CFR 185.506) require fire and emergency drills to be conducted weekly on inspected passenger vessels to ensure crew readiness.
USCG Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting 2
What does the acronym PASS stand for when using a portable fire extinguisher?