Chapter 7 - Fire Extinguishers
Which class of fire is depicted in the pictograph system by a burning trashcan beside a wood fire? A) A B) D C) M D) R Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
A) A
When approaching a fire with an extinguisher in hand, fire fighters should always have what behind them? A) An exit B) The wind C) A light source D) A backup extinguisher Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 249
A) An exit
Select the true statement regarding Class A and Class B foam fire extinguishers and their use on the unintended class of fire A) Class B extinguishers may be used to some effect on Class A fires. B) Class A extinguishers may be used to some effect on Class B fires. C) Either extinguisher may be used to some effect on either class of fire. D) Neither extinguisher can be used to any effect on the other class of fire. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 247
A) Class B extinguishers may be used to some effect on Class A fires
Which extinguishing method is being used when a foam blanket is placed over the surface of a burning liquid? A) Cutting off the oxygen B) Cooling the fuel below its kindling temperature C) Chemically converting the fuel to a non-fuel D) Reflecting evolved heat back into the fire Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 232
A) Cutting off the oxygen
What is the test used to measure the ability of a cylinder to withstand internal pressure? A) Hydrostatic testing B) Hydromatic testing C) Load testing D) Capacity testing Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 259
A) Hydrostatic testing
If a fire extinguisher containing ammonium phosphate is used on a Class K fire, not only will it be ineffective, but it can actually worsen the problem. How? A) It can counteract the foaming properties of any alkaline agent applied to the fire. B) It will emit hydrogen cyanide gas, a deadly and penetrating poison. C) It will cause a rapid polymerization, resulting in a near-BLEVE expansion of the fuel. D) It can cause the fuel to heat up internally to reacquire its flash point. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 245
A) It can counteract the foaming properties of any alkaline agent applied to the fire.
Which class of fire involves combustible cooking oils and fats? A) K B) A C) B D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
A) K
Which of the following is not an example of a light hazard environment? A) Self-storage B) Classrooms C) Assembly halls D) Hotel guest rooms Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
A) Self-storage
How are occupancy use category and hazard classification related, if at all? A) They are not necessarily related. B) Occupancy determines hazard. C) Hazard determines occupancy. D) They are the same thing. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
A) They are not necessarily related.
What, if anything, do the chemicals in multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers do to prevent rekindling of Class A materials? A) They form a crust over the fuel. B) They form a blanket of foam over the fuel. C) They chemically bond to the fuel, making it non-combustible. D) They do nothing to prevent rekindling. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 245
A) They form a crust over the fuel.
What is the most common extinguishing agent for Class A fires? A) Water B) CO2 C) Dry chemical D) Carbon tetrachloride Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 233
A) Water
Do fire department vehicles usually carry portable fire extinguishers? A) Yes, at least one and sometimes more. B) Yes, but only in non-hydranted areas. C) No, but they can and sometimes do. D) No, and they are prohibited from doing so. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 231
A) Yes, at least one and sometimes more.
Which class of fire is depicted in the pictograph system by a flame and gasoline can? A) A B) B C) C D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
B) B
Which traditional letter label is represented by a red square? A) A B) B C) C D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
B) B
Why can dry chemical extinguishers be used on Class C fires? A) Because dry chemicals are chemically similar to water B) Because dry chemicals do not conduct electricity C) Because dry chemicals never actually touch the fuel D) Because dry chemicals are themselves electrically static Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
B) Because dry chemicals do not conduct electricity
Why would a fire extinguisher class icon have a red diagonal line through it? A) Because using the extinguisher on that class of fire would be ineffective B) Because using the extinguisher on that class of fire would create additional risk C) Because the use of that type of extinguisher on that class has not been tested D) Because it is illegal to use that type of extinguisher on that class of fire for environmental reasons Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
B) Because using the extinguisher on that class of fire would create additional risk
How are fires and fire extinguishers grouped? A) Both are grouped into types. B) Both are grouped into classes. C) Fires are grouped into classes and extinguishers into types. D) Extinguishers are grouped into classes and fires into types. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 233
B) Both are grouped into classes.
What is one extinguishing agent that will not conduct electricity? A) Carbon tetrachloride B) Carbon dioxide C) Aluminum powder D) Water with Class A foam added Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
B) Carbon dioxide
Light hazard environments usually contain a limited amount of combustibles of which class? A) Class D B) Class A C) Class M D) Class B Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
B) Class A
What is the substance called that is contained in a portable fire extinguisher and puts out the fire? A) Propellant B) Extinguishing agent C) Dry charge D) Anhydrous material Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 239
B) Extinguishing agent
What residue, if any, does a CO2 fire extinguisher leave when discharged? A) Powdered carbon dioxide B) It does not leave any residue. C) Selenium oxide D) Simple salt Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 246
B) It does not leave any residue.
What is the significance of the C in the following fire extinguisher rating? 2-A:10-B:C A) It means that the agent contained therein is of the cyanoacrylate-base family. B) It means that this extinguisher can be used on energized electrical equipment. C) The lack of a number following the C means it is not suitable for use on any electrical fire. D) It means that the agent contained therein is of the carbon-tetrachloride base family. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
B) It means that this extinguisher can be used on energized electrical equipment.
The classification system for fire extinguishers uses which two types of symbols? A) Bar code and letters B) Letters and numbers C) Numbers and dots D) Dots and bar code Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
B) Letters and numbers
Which NFPA standard lists the requirements for placing and mounting portable fire extinguishers? A) NFPA 5 B) NFPA 10 C) NFPA 15 D) NFPA 20 Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
B) NFPA 10
What is the term for water-soluble flammable liquids such as alcohols, acetone, and others? A) Volatile fuels B) Polar solvents C) Flammable surfactants D) Three-dimensional liquids Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 247
B) Polar solvents
What is an advantage of portable fire extinguishers? A) Versatility B) Portability C) Amount of agent D) Stand-off distance from fire Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 231
B) Portability
For an area to qualify for the classification of light hazard, most of the combustibles present must meet one of two requirements A) They must be extinguishable by a portable fire extinguisher. B) They must be arranged so that a fire is unlikely to spread. C) They must be composed of intrinsically safe elements. D) They must not react hypergolically to each other. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
B) They must be arranged so that a fire is unlikely to spread.
What is the safest and surest way to extinguish a Class C fire? A) Drench it with copious amounts of water. B) Turn off the power and treat it as a Class A or Class B fire. C) Smother it with a treated carbon-fire blanket. D) Evacuate the air in the location of the fire. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
B) Turn off the power and treat it as a Class A or Class B fire.
Which motion best accomplishes the removal of the pin and tamper seal from a portable fire extinguisher? A) Slow, steady pull B) Twisting motion C) Side-to-side motion D) Push, then pull Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 240
B) Twisting motion
Does it matter which type of dry powder extinguisher is used on which type of burning metal? A) Yes, each type of metal is marked with which type of dry powder to use in case of fire. B) Yes, each dry powder-extinguishing agent is marked for use on specific combustible metal fires. C) No, one dry powder extinguisher will work on any kind of metal. D) No, one type of metal will respond to any type of dry powder. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 248
B) Yes, each dry powder-extinguishing agent is marked for use on specific combustible metal fires.
According to NFPA 10, the maximum floor area that can be protected by each extinguisher depends on: A) the water supply. B) the occupancy type. C) the skill of the user. D) the building's history of fire. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
B) the occupancy type.
What is the weight of carbon dioxide in comparison to air? A) 0.5 B) 1 C) 1.5 D) 2 Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 245
C) 1.5
A Class B extinguisher with a rating of 40-B would be expected to extinguish which size flammable liquid surface fire when used by a non-expert? A) 40 cubic feet B) 40 cubic meters C) 40 square feet D) 40 square inches Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
C) 40 square feet
What is generally the maximum distance a CO2 extinguisher can be expected to reach? A) 32 feet B) 16 feet C) 8 feet D) 4 feet Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 246
C) 8 feet
Which class of fire involves ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics? A) C B) B C) A D) 1 Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 233
C) A
Which class of fire involves flammable or combustible liquids? A) K B) A C) B D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 233
C) B
Which class of fire is depicted in the pictograph system by a flame and an electrical plug and socket? A) K B) B C) C D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
C) C
Besides putting out incipient fires, what is another use for portable fire extinguishers? A) Wetting exposures to keep them from igniting from radiated heat B) Controlling large flammable liquids fires that are not yet dammed or diked C) Controlling fires where traditional methods of suppression are not recommended D) Serving as an alternate forcible entry device through standard wooden residential doors Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 231
C) Controlling fires where traditional methods of suppression are not recommended
Class B foam extinguishers are not suitable for which particular type of flammable liquid fire? A) Gasoline B) Diesel fuel C) Cooking oil D) Jet A or B fuels Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 247
C) Cooking oil
Which hazard category is represented by the following: auto showrooms, parking garages, and retail stores? A) Severe B) Light C) Ordinary D) Extra Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
C) Ordinary
All portable fire extinguishers use what means for expelling their contents? A) Springs B) Vacuum C) Pressure D) Gravity Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 239
C) Pressure
What is one disadvantage of CO2 extinguishers compared to other extinguishers? A) Electrical conductivity B) Expensive chemical inside C) Short discharge range D) Messy residue Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 246
C) Short discharge range
What is one disadvantage of CO2 extinguishers? A) Electrical conductivity B) Expensive chemical inside C) Short discharge range D) Messy residue Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 246
C) Short discharge range
The dry chemicals in fire extinguishers work in two ways. What is one of those ways? A) They form an oxygen barrier between the air and the fuel. B) They chemically convert the fuel to a non-fuel isotope. C) They interrupt the chemical chain reactions of combustion. D) They imitate the oxygen molecules a fire needs to burn. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 243
C) They interrupt the chemical chain reactions of combustion.
Portable fire extinguishers have two primary uses. What is one? A) To defuse possible backdraft conditions B) To reach rollover gases C) To extinguish incipient fires D) To provide emergency air Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 231
C) To extinguish incipient fires
Is it ever appropriate to have two different types of fire extinguisher in the same area? A) No, this sets up the possibility of opposing streams. B) No, this risks laypeople selecting the wrong one. C) Yes, there may be more than one type of combustible. D) No, this is prohibited by the building code. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 238
C) Yes, there may be more than one type of combustible.
Fire prevention programs encourage citizens to keep fire extinguishers in their homes, especially: A) in the garage. B) in the bedrooms. C) in the kitchen. D) near the exits. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 230
C) in the kitchen.
How many gallons of water are contained in a Class A fire extinguisher with a numerical rating of 2? A) 1 B) 1.5 C) 2 D) 2.5 Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
D) 2.5
What is the range of a 2.5-gallon water extinguisher expelled in a solid stream? A) 5-10 feet B) 15-20 feet C) 25-30 feet D) 35-40 feet Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 241
D) 35-40 feet
Which classes of fire extinguisher include a number in their classification? A) B and C B) C and M C) M and A D) A and B Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
D) A and B
When should fire extinguishers on apparatus be inspected? A) Monthly B) Annually C) When there is evidence the extinguisher has been used D) Along with regular apparatus equipment checks Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 258
D) Along with regular apparatus equipment checks
What is one chemical used as a dry chemical extinguishing agent? A) Ammonium nitrate B) Trinitrotoluene C) Methyl isocyanate D) Ammonium phosphate Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 243
D) Ammonium phosphate
When determining what risk classification to assign a certain building area, which two factors contribute? A) Direction and density of pedestrian traffic flow B) Elevation and configuration of the given area C) Volume and pressure capacity of sprinklers D) Amount and type of combustibles present Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 237
D) Amount and type of combustibles present
Which class of fire would involve energized building wiring, fuse boxes, transformers, or generators? A) F B) E C) D D) C Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 233
D) C
Which class of fire involves combustible metals? A) K B) A C) B D) D Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
D) D
Which hazard category is represented by the following: woodworking shops, service or repair facilities for cars, and cooking areas with deep fryers? A) Severe B) Consumer C) Regular D) Extra Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 238
D) Extra
Bromochlorodifluoromethane should be recognized by fire fighters as a certain type of extinguishing agent A) Carbon tet B) MetalX C) CO2 D) Halon 1211 Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 248
D) Halon 1211
All fires require three basic ingredients, one of which is fuel. What is another? A) Nitrogen B) Surfactant C) Water D) Heat Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 232
D) Heat
What is another word for the point at which a material begins to burn? A) Flash point B) Evolution temperature C) Liquefaction temperature D) Ignition temperature Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 232
D) Ignition temperature
Why is the use of halon agents strictly controlled? A) It is mutagenic. B) It is carcinogenic. C) It pollutes ground water. D) It damages the ozone layer. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 248
D) It damages the ozone layer.
What one characteristic makes an extinguishing agent suitable for fighting Class C fires? A) It must absorb more heat than water does. B) It must absorb only minimal heat. C) It must not catalyze a polymer reaction. D) It must not conduct electricity. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
D) It must not conduct electricity.
Which statement accurately describes how relatively easy or hard it would be for a trained person to extinguish a fire in a wastebasket, with a suitable portable fire extinguisher? A) It would be hard with success unlikely. B) It would be touch and go; the outcome would be unpredictable. C) It would be tough but would likely succeed. D) It would usually be easy. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 231
D) It would usually be easy.
Which class of fire is depicted in the pictograph system by a fire in a frying pan? A) A B) B C) C D) K Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 236
D) K
Which of the following statements is accurate regarding fire extinguishers? A) Maintenance is required if the pressure exceeds 3000 psi. B) Servicing is not required if it was discharged for less than 5 seconds. C) 2.5-gallon, stored-pressure extinguishers cannot be recharged by fire fighters. D) Non-rechargeable extinguishers must be replaced after any use. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 259
D) Non-rechargeable extinguishers must be replaced after any use. Feedback :
When operating a fire extinguisher, the acronym PASS can be used to assist you in the steps. What does the acronym stand for? A) Point, aim, shoot, stream B) Point, arms length, sweep, side C) Push, aim, side, side D) Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 250
D) Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep
What is the body of a portable fire extinguisher called? A) The bell B) The horn C) The agent D) The cylinder Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 239
D) The cylinder
How is the numerical rating of Class K portable fire extinguishers assigned, if there is such a rating? A) On the basis of square feet of burning fuel extinguished by an expert B) On the basis of square feet of burning fuel extinguished by a layperson C) On the basis of a mathematical formula and the net weight of agent D) There is no such rating assigned. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 248
D) There is no such rating assigned.
What is the relationship, if any, between dry powder and dry chemical extinguishing agents? A) They are two different names for the same substance with the same application. B) Dry chemical is one of the many types of dry powder. C) Dry powder is one of the many types of dry chemical. D) They are entirely different substances with entirely different applications. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 249
D) They are entirely different substances with entirely different applications.
What is one advantage of portable fire extinguishers over hose lines? A) They pack more suppression punch. B) They have controllable rates of flow. C) They don't run out as quickly. D) They are quicker to deploy and use.
D) They are quicker to deploy and use.
What happens if normal extinguishing agents are tried on Class D fires? A) Typically, nothing happens at all. B) They put out the fire but produce poisonous gases. C) They work but only when delivered at great pressure. D) They may react violently, even explosively. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 234
D) They may react violently, even explosively.
What can be added to water extinguishers to reduce the surface tension of water to aid in extinguishment of fuels such as baled cotton or fibrous materials? A) Alkali metal salt B) Alcohol C) Quick water D) Wetting agent Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 242
D) Wetting agent
Fire extinguishers are rated for their ability to control a specific type of fire and: A) ease of use. B) reach of agent. C) overall weight. D) ability to prevent rekindling. Feedback : Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Fourth Edition, page 235
D) ability to prevent rekindling.