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Question

Difficulty: MediumFires and Fire Extinguisher Use

After safely pulling off the roadway and securing the vehicle during an incipient fire emergency, a commercial driver prepares to use a portable fire extinguisher. Which of the following procedures represents the correct technique for extinguishing the fire?

  1. A
    Fully lift open the engine hood to discharge the extinguishing agent directly into the center of the flames.
  2. B
    Direct the chemical spray at the upper tips of the flames while standing downwind of the fire source.
  3. Stay as far away as possible, aim the stream at the base of the fire, and sweep from side to side from an upwind position.Answer
  4. D
    Discharge water directly onto electrical connections and fuel lines before deploying chemical extinguishing agents.

Answer

Stay as far away as possible, aim the stream at the base of the fire, and sweep from side to side from an upwind position.
Proper fire extinguisher operation requires standing at a safe distance on the upwind side to avoid smoke and blowback, aiming directly at the base of the fire where the fuel source is burning, and sweeping side to side until the fire is completely out.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine wind direction and position yourself upwind at a safe stand-off distance.
Avoids inhaling toxic smoke, heat, and chemical discharge while maintaining an effective reach.
Safety regulations require operators to stay as far away from the fire as possible while still in effective range of the stream.
2
Direct the extinguisher nozzle toward the base of the fire rather than the flames.
The extinguishing chemical coats and smothers the burning material or fuel source.
Spraying the visible flames in the air does not eliminate the combustion source at the base.
3
Sweep the nozzle slowly from side to side across the base of the burning area.
Provides complete chemical coverage across the fuel bed to suppress re-ignition.
A steady sweeping pattern ensures the entire burning surface is starved of oxygen and cooled.

Key Concept

Proper portable fire extinguisher deployment protocols and aiming techniques for commercial vehicle fires
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Fires and Fire Extinguisher Use

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