F-02 - Fireguard Emergency Response Procedures Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a fireguard on fire watch discovers an active fire, what is the FIRST action they must take?
- Attempt to extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher
- Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station or verbally alert occupants (Correct answer)
- Notify the building owner by phone
- Continue the patrol to confirm the fire is not spreading
Correct answer: Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station or verbally alert occupants
The first priority is to activate the building's fire alarm (or verbally alert occupants) to initiate evacuation immediately. Calling 911 follows immediately after.
Upon discovering an active fire, the fireguard's first duty is to activate the building's fire alarm system to alert occupants and initiate evacuation. If the fire alarm system is impaired and unable to be activated, the fireguard must immediately and loudly alert occupants by voice or other available means. Simultaneously or immediately after, the fireguard must call 911 to notify FDNY. Attempting to fight the fire without first ensuring occupant notification is a critical error — life safety is the primary priority. The fireguard should never delay notifying occupants and FDNY to attempt fire control.
Question 2: During a fire watch, a fireguard discovers smoke coming from a utility closet. The fire is small and may be controllable. What should the fireguard do?
- Immediately call 911, sound the alarm, and attempt to extinguish with a portable extinguisher only if trained and it is safe to do so (Correct answer)
- Extinguish the fire first, then report it to the building manager after the shift
- Close the closet door to contain the fire and wait for the fire to self-extinguish
- Wait to confirm the fire grows larger before calling 911 to avoid a false alarm
Correct answer: Immediately call 911, sound the alarm, and attempt to extinguish with a portable extinguisher only if trained and it is safe to do so
The fireguard must immediately call 911 and sound the alarm regardless of fire size. Use of a portable extinguisher is only appropriate if the fireguard is trained and it is safe, but notification always comes first.
Even a small, apparently controllable fire requires the fireguard to immediately call 911 and activate the fire alarm or alert occupants. FDNY must be notified of any fire, regardless of size. After ensuring notification, a fireguard who is trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers may attempt to extinguish a small fire only if it is safe to do so — meaning the fire has not spread beyond its point of origin, there is a clear exit behind the fireguard, and the fireguard can retreat safely if the fire grows. The fireguard must never prioritize extinguishment over notification or risk their own safety.
Question 3: A fireguard on fire watch receives word that trapped occupants are on the 5th floor. What is the appropriate action?
- Attempt a solo rescue of the trapped occupants
- Immediately relay the information to arriving FDNY units and guide them to the location (Correct answer)
- Evacuate all other floors before assisting the 5th floor
- Assess the situation and decide whether to call FDNY based on the danger level
Correct answer: Immediately relay the information to arriving FDNY units and guide them to the location
The fireguard's role is to relay critical information to FDNY units, not to conduct solo rescues. Providing location information helps FDNY respond effectively.
Fireguards are not trained or equipped for structural fire rescue operations. Upon receiving information about trapped occupants, the fireguard's critical role is to immediately relay this information to responding FDNY units so that trained firefighters can perform the rescue. The fireguard should meet arriving units, provide building layout information, floor access information, and the last known location of trapped persons. Attempting a solo rescue without proper training and equipment endangers both the fireguard and the trapped occupants.
Question 4: During a fire watch, a fireguard notices a suspicious unattended bag in the lobby. There is no sign of fire. What should the fireguard do?
- Move the bag to a storage room to clear the path
- Do not touch the bag, evacuate the immediate area, and notify building security and FDNY (Correct answer)
- Open the bag to check its contents before calling anyone
- Note the bag in the logbook and continue the patrol without taking further action
Correct answer: Do not touch the bag, evacuate the immediate area, and notify building security and FDNY
Suspicious unattended objects should not be touched. The immediate area should be cleared and FDNY and building security should be notified promptly.
Although a fireguard's primary duty involves fire watch, they remain responsible for general safety observations. Upon discovering a suspicious unattended bag, the fireguard must not touch, open, or move it. They should immediately clear people from the immediate area, notify building security, and call 911. The FDNY and NYPD are equipped to handle potential hazardous devices. Touching or moving a suspicious item could trigger a hazardous event. The fireguard should note the time and description of the item in the fire watch log and cooperate fully with responders.
Question 5: After FDNY arrives at an emergency scene where a fire watch is in place, what should the fireguard do?
- Leave the building immediately to avoid interfering
- Report to the incident commander, provide building information, and follow their directions (Correct answer)
- Continue the regular patrol schedule without interruption
- Begin shutting off utilities to prevent fire spread
Correct answer: Report to the incident commander, provide building information, and follow their directions
Upon FDNY arrival, the fireguard should report to the incident commander, provide relevant building information (layout, hazards, impaired systems), and follow all FDNY directions.
When FDNY units arrive at an emergency where a fire watch is in place, the fireguard's role shifts to supporting FDNY operations. The fireguard should report to the incident commander or the first arriving officer, identify themselves as the on-duty fireguard, and provide critical information such as: the building floor plan, the location and extent of impaired systems, hazardous materials locations, the location of the fire or emergency, and any trapped occupants. The fireguard must follow all instructions from the incident commander and make themselves available to assist FDNY units as directed.
Question 6: What information should a fireguard log in the fire watch record after responding to an emergency during their watch?
- Only the time the emergency was resolved
- The time the emergency was discovered, actions taken, who was notified, and when FDNY arrived (Correct answer)
- A summary of the entire shift with no specific detail about the emergency
- No entry is required if FDNY handled the emergency
Correct answer: The time the emergency was discovered, actions taken, who was notified, and when FDNY arrived
All emergency events must be fully documented in the fire watch log, including discovery time, actions taken, notifications made, and FDNY arrival time.
The fire watch log must contain a complete record of any emergency that occurs during the fireguard's watch, regardless of whether FDNY responded. Required log entries for an emergency include: the time the emergency was discovered, the nature of the emergency (fire, smoke, suspicious item, etc.), the specific location, the actions taken by the fireguard, who was notified (911, building management, occupants), and the time FDNY arrived. Thorough documentation creates an official record that may be reviewed by FDNY inspectors, building management, or legal authorities following an incident.
F-02 - Fireguard Emergency Response Procedures Questions and Answers 2
When a fireguard on fire watch discovers an active fire, what is the FIRST action they must take?