Fire Safety Basic Fire Safety Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a fire sprinkler system?
- To extinguish all fires automatically
- To control fire growth and protect escape routes (Correct answer)
- To replace fire extinguishers
- To notify the fire department
Correct answer: To control fire growth and protect escape routes
Sprinkler systems are designed to control fire growth and maintain tenable conditions for evacuation, not necessarily extinguish the fire entirely.
Question 2: Which household appliance is the leading cause of home fires in the United States according to the NFPA?
- Dryers and washing machines
- Refrigerators
- Cooking equipment (Correct answer)
- Water heaters
Correct answer: Cooking equipment
Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the US, according to NFPA data.
Question 3: What should you do if your clothes catch on fire?
- Run to find water immediately
- Stop, drop, and roll (Correct answer)
- Remove your clothing quickly
- Fan the flames to put them out
Correct answer: Stop, drop, and roll
Stop, drop, and roll smothers the flames by cutting off the oxygen supply and prevents running, which fans the fire.
Question 4: How often should fire extinguishers in a home or workplace be professionally inspected?
- Every 5 years
- Every month
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
Correct answer: Annually
NFPA 10 requires fire extinguishers to receive an annual maintenance inspection by a certified professional.
Question 5: What color label indicates a Class A fire extinguisher?
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Green (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Green
Class A extinguishers are identified by a green label and are used for ordinary combustibles like wood and paper.
Question 6: During a fire evacuation drill, who is typically responsible for conducting a headcount after evacuation?
- The fire department
- Each individual employee
- The designated floor warden or assembly area monitor (Correct answer)
- Building security
Correct answer: The designated floor warden or assembly area monitor
Floor wardens or designated assembly monitors are responsible for accounting for all personnel at the designated muster point.
Question 7: What is 'backdraft' in firefighting terminology?
- A wind-driven fire that moves backward
- An explosive ignition when oxygen is introduced to a superheated oxygen-depleted space (Correct answer)
- A fire that spreads underground
- Smoke being pulled back into a building by ventilation
Correct answer: An explosive ignition when oxygen is introduced to a superheated oxygen-depleted space
Backdraft occurs when a smoldering oxygen-starved fire suddenly gets a supply of fresh air, causing an explosive combustion event.
Fire Safety Basic Fire Safety Knowledge 3
What is the primary purpose of a fire sprinkler system?