Fire Safety Interview: 50 Questions and Sample Answers
1. What is fire safety?
Answer: Fire safety refers to precautions and measures taken to prevent, control, and respond to fires in workplaces and homes.
2. Why is fire safety important?
Answer: Fire safety is important to protect lives, prevent property damage, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
3. What are the three elements of the fire triangle?
Answer: The fire triangle consists of:
- Heat (ignition source)
- Fuel (combustible materials)
- Oxygen (supports combustion)
4. What is the fire tetrahedron?
Answer: The fire tetrahedron adds a fourth element—chemical chain reaction, which sustains combustion.
5. What are the common causes of fire?
Answer: Common causes include:
- Electrical faults
- Flammable materials
- Open flames
- Smoking
- Human negligence
6. What are the five classes of fire?
Answer:
- Class A – Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth)
- Class B – Flammable liquids (gasoline, oil)
- Class C – Electrical fires
- Class D – Metal fires (magnesium, aluminum)
- Class K – Cooking oils and fats
7. What type of fire extinguisher should be used for Class A fires?
Answer: Water-based, foam, or multi-purpose ABC extinguishers.
8. What type of extinguisher is used for Class B fires?
Answer: CO₂ (carbon dioxide) or dry chemical extinguishers.
9. How do you extinguish a Class C fire?
Answer: Use a CO₂ or dry chemical extinguisher and turn off the power source.
10. What type of extinguisher is used for Class D fires?
Answer: Specialized dry powder extinguishers designed for metal fires.
11. How do you put out a Class K fire?
Answer: Use a wet chemical extinguisher designed for cooking fires.
12. What does the PASS method stand for?
Answer: PASS stands for:
- P – Pull the pin
- A – Aim at the base of the fire
- S – Squeeze the handle
- S – Sweep from side to side
13. What are fire extinguishers filled with?
Answer: Depending on the type, extinguishers contain water, foam, CO₂, dry chemicals, or wet chemicals.
14. What is the difference between a fire extinguisher and a fire suppression system?
Answer: A fire extinguisher is manually operated, while a suppression system automatically detects and controls fires (e.g., sprinklers).
15. What is a fire hazard?
Answer: A fire hazard is any condition or material that increases the risk of fire, such as overloaded circuits or flammable liquids.
16. How can fire hazards be minimized?
Answer: – Proper housekeeping
- Safe storage of flammable materials
- Regular equipment maintenance
- Adequate fire training
17. What is a fire drill?
Answer: A fire drill is a practice exercise to prepare employees for an emergency evacuation.
18. Why are fire drills important?
Answer: They train people on evacuation procedures, test response times, and improve fire safety awareness.
19. What are the main components of a fire alarm system?
Answer: – Smoke/heat detectors
- Manual call points
- Alarm sounders
- Control panel
20. What is the difference between a smoke detector and a heat detector?
Answer: A smoke detector senses smoke particles, while a heat detector reacts to temperature changes.
21. How often should fire extinguishers be inspected?
Answer: Monthly visual checks and annual professional servicing.
22. What is a fire exit?
Answer: A designated escape route that leads safely outside during a fire emergency.
23. Why should fire exits be kept clear?
Answer: Blocked exits delay evacuation and increase injury risks.
24. What are emergency lights?
Answer: Battery-powered lights that activate during a power failure to guide evacuations.
25. What is an assembly point?
Answer: A pre-designated safe area where people gather after evacuating.
26. What is a fire door?
Answer: A fire-resistant door designed to contain fire and smoke, preventing spread.
27. Why should fire doors never be propped open?
Answer: It compromises fire containment, allowing fire and smoke to spread.
28. What are the four stages of fire development?
Answer:
- Incipient stage – Initial ignition
- Growth stage – Fire spreads
- Fully developed stage – Maximum intensity
- Decay stage – Fire runs out of fuel
29. What is flashover?
Answer: A sudden transition from a growing fire to a fully developed fire, engulfing a room.
30. What is backdraft?
Answer: An explosion caused by the sudden reintroduction of oxygen into an oxygen-starved fire.
31. What should you do if your clothes catch fire?
Answer: Stop, Drop, and Roll to smother the flames.
32. How should flammable liquids be stored?
Answer: In approved containers, away from ignition sources, and in ventilated areas.
33. What is a fire-resistant material?
Answer: A material that resists burning and slows fire spread (e.g., fire-rated doors, concrete).
34. What should you do if you are trapped in a fire?
Answer: – Stay low to avoid smoke
- Cover nose/mouth with a damp cloth
- Signal for help
35. How can cooking fires be prevented?
Answer: – Never leave cooking unattended
- Keep flammable materials away
- Use correct cooking oil temperature
36. Why should water not be used on grease fires?
Answer: Water spreads burning oil, making the fire worse.
37. What is a fire suppression system?
Answer: An automatic system (e.g., sprinklers, gas suppression) that controls fires.
38. How do automatic sprinklers work?
Answer: Heat triggers sprinkler heads to release water, controlling fire spread.
39. How do fire blankets work?
Answer: Fire blankets smother flames by cutting off oxygen.
40. What are the responsibilities of a fire warden?
Answer: – Ensuring fire safety compliance
- Guiding evacuations
- Reporting fire hazards
41. What is a fire hydrant?
Answer: A high-pressure water source used by firefighters.
42. What should you do in case of a fire emergency?
Answer: – Sound the alarm
- Evacuate safely
- Call emergency services
43. Why is fire risk assessment important?
Answer: It identifies fire hazards and helps implement control measures.
44. What is fire load?
Answer: The total amount of combustible materials in a space, affecting fire intensity.
45. What is a smoke control system?
Answer: A system that manages smoke movement to protect escape routes.
46. What should be included in a fire emergency plan?
Answer: – Evacuation routes
- Fire extinguisher locations
- Emergency contacts
47. How does fire spread?
Answer: Through convection, conduction, and radiation.
48. What is spontaneous combustion?
Answer: A fire caused by self-heating of materials (e.g., oily rags).
49. How should electrical fires be prevented?
Answer: – Avoid overloaded circuits
- Inspect wiring regularly
- Use proper circuit breakers
50. What is the first step in fire prevention?
Answer: Identifying and eliminating fire hazards before they cause a fire.
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