Emergency Services Fire Safety and Firefighting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the three elements of the 'Fire Triangle'?
- Heat, fuel, oxygen (Correct answer)
- Spark, material, air
- Ignition, combustion, smoke
- Heat, wood, carbon
Correct answer: Heat, fuel, oxygen
The fire triangle consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen — removing any one element extinguishes the fire.
Question 2: What type of fire extinguisher should be used on a Class K (cooking oil) fire?
- CO2 extinguisher
- Dry chemical extinguisher
- Wet chemical extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Water mist extinguisher
Correct answer: Wet chemical extinguisher
Class K fires involve cooking oils and greases and require wet chemical extinguishers, which saponify the burning fat.
Question 3: What does PASS stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Push, Activate, Spray, Stop
- Point, Aim, Spray, Secure
- Pull, Activate, Spray, Sweep
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
Question 4: What is 'backdraft' in firefighting?
- A sudden explosion when oxygen is reintroduced into a depleted fire environment (Correct answer)
- Smoke traveling backwards through a building
- A fire that burns in the opposite wind direction
- A controlled burn to create a fire break
Correct answer: A sudden explosion when oxygen is reintroduced into a depleted fire environment
Backdraft occurs when a smoldering fire in an oxygen-depleted space receives a sudden influx of fresh air, causing a rapid explosive combustion.
Question 5: Which ICS (Incident Command System) principle ensures that each responder reports to only one supervisor?
- Unified command
- Unity of command (Correct answer)
- Chain of command
- Span of control
Correct answer: Unity of command
Unity of command means every responder has one designated supervisor, reducing confusion and conflicting orders.
Question 6: What is the recommended span of control in ICS?
- 1:3 to 1:7, with an optimal ratio of 1:5 (Correct answer)
- 1:10 to 1:15
- 1:2 to 1:4
- Unlimited based on incident size
Correct answer: 1:3 to 1:7, with an optimal ratio of 1:5
In ICS, one supervisor should oversee 3 to 7 subordinates, with 5 considered optimal for effective management.
Emergency Services Fire Safety and Firefighting 1
What are the three elements of the 'Fire Triangle'?