FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR ORAL EXAM

FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. Basic Understanding

1. What are the three elements of the fire triangle?
   Answer: Heat, Fuel, and Oxygen.

2. What is the difference between fire triangle and fire tetrahedron?
   Answer: Fire triangle has three elements – Heat, Fuel, Oxygen. Fire tetrahedron includes a fourth element – Chemical Chain Reaction.

3. Name the classes of fire and give one example for each.
   Answer:

   • Class A – Wood, Paper

   • Class B – Oil, Paint

   • Class C – Electrical

   • Class D – Metal

   • Class K (F) – Cooking oil/fats (used in galley)

4. What is spontaneous combustion? Give one example.
   Answer: Fire started without external flame due to heat build-up; e.g., oily rags in engine room.

5. How do you prevent oil fires in the engine room?
   Answer: Regular cleaning, checking for leaks, proper insulation of hot surfaces, and proper storage of flammable items.

2. Types and Classes of Fire

6. What is a Class A fire?
   Answer: Fire involving solid combustibles like wood, paper, or cloth.

7. What is a Class B fire?
   Answer: Fire involving flammable liquids like oil, paint, or petrol.

8. What extinguisher is used for electrical fires (Class C)?
   Answer: CO₂ or Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguisher.

9. Why is water not used on oil fires?
   Answer: Water spreads the burning oil and can cause explosions.

10. What is a Class D fire and where can it occur on ships?
    Answer: Fire involving metals like magnesium or aluminum; may occur in workshop or machinery handling certain metals.

3. Fire Extinguishers

11. Name different types of portable fire extinguishers.
    Answer: Water, Foam, CO₂, Dry Powder, Wet Chemical.

12. How does a CO₂ fire extinguisher work?
    Answer: It displaces oxygen and cools the fire, suffocating it.

13. What safety precautions should be taken while using CO₂ extinguisher?
    Answer: Avoid holding the horn (it can cause frostbite), ensure ventilation after use, and do not use in confined space without SCBA.

14. How do you identify if a fire extinguisher is full or needs refilling?
    Answer: By checking the pressure gauge or weighing it.

15. What colour code is used for:

• Water extinguisher – Red

• Foam extinguisher – Cream

• CO₂ extinguisher – Black

• Dry powder extinguisher – Blue

4. Fire Detection & Alarm

16. What types of fire detectors are used onboard?
    Answer: Smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors.

17. What does the fire alarm signal sound like?
    Answer: Continuous ringing of the ship’s general alarm bell.

18. Where is the fire alarm control panel usually located?
    Answer: On the bridge and in the engine control room.

19. What is the importance of a fire control plan on board ship?
    Answer: It shows locations of fire fighting equipment, escape routes, and helps in emergency response.

20. What is the purpose of a fire patrol?
    Answer: To detect fire early and ensure all fire fighting systems are in good condition.

5. Firefighting Equipment & Procedures

21. Name different types of fire hoses and nozzles.
    Answer: Canvas hose, Rubber-lined hose; Nozzles – Jet, Spray, Dual-purpose nozzles.

22. What is a fire hydrant?
    Answer: A shipboard water outlet for connecting fire hoses.

23. What is the purpose of an emergency fire pump?
    Answer: To supply water to fire main system during power failure.

24. Describe how to don and use a fireman’s outfit.
    Answer: Wear the fire suit, helmet, boots, gloves, SCBA; check air pressure, open valve, and enter smoke-filled area safely.

25. What are the contents of a fireman’s outfit?
    Answer: Fire-resistant suit, boots, helmet, gloves, SCBA, axe, flashlight, lifeline.

6. Fixed Fire Fighting Systems

26. What is the function of the CO₂ flooding system?
    Answer: To suppress fire by displacing oxygen in enclosed spaces like engine room.

27. Why is the engine room ventilator closed before releasing CO₂?
    Answer: To prevent escape of CO₂ and ensure effective fire suppression.

28. What precautions should be taken before using fixed foam system?
    Answer: Ensure area is evacuated, isolate fuel source, and activate from safe location.

29. What is the role of the fire damper?
    Answer: To block airflow and prevent fire/smoke from spreading through ventilation ducts.

30. What is the meaning of “boundary cooling” during fire?
    Answer: Spraying water on surrounding bulkheads to prevent fire from spreading.

7. Emergency Situations

31. What is your action if you discover a fire?
    Answer: Raise alarm, try to extinguish if safe, inform bridge/engine room, close ventilation.

32. What is your action if you hear the fire alarm?
    Answer: Report to muster station, wear PPE, follow orders from fire party commander.

33. What is meant by fire boundary?
    Answer: The area immediately surrounding the fire that needs cooling to prevent spread.

34. What is backdraft?
    Answer: Sudden explosion due to re-entry of oxygen into a space with smoldering fire.

35. How do you prevent re-ignition of fire?
    Answer: Cool the area properly, remove residual fuel, monitor temperature.

8. Teamwork and Communication

36. Who is in charge of the fire party on board ship?
    Answer: Chief Officer or the designated fire team leader.

37. What is the role of G.P. Rating during fire fighting operation?
    Answer: Assist in hose handling, boundary cooling, communication, and securing the area.

38. How do you communicate during fire emergency on board?
    Answer: By portable radios, sound-powered phones, hand signals if needed.

39. What is the role of the bridge during a fire?
    Answer: Coordinate response, sound alarms, shut ventilation, and inform authorities.

40. What signals are used to abandon fire-fighting and abandon ship?
    Answer: Continuous sounding of the general alarm and ship’s whistle as per Muster List.