Basic Firefighter Written Practice Exam

What is the technique called that involves excluding oxygen from a fire to extinguish it?

1. Cool

2. Smother

3. Douse

4. Suppress

The correct answer is: Smother

The technique referred to in the question is smothering. Smothering a fire involves covering it with a material that excludes oxygen, which is essential for combustion. When the fire is deprived of oxygen, the chemical reaction that sustains it cannot continue, leading to its extinguishment. For example, this can be achieved by using a fire blanket, foam, or other materials that create a barrier between the fire and the surrounding air. This method is particularly effective for small fires or in situations where the use of water might not be suitable. Other techniques like cooling, dousing, and suppressing do not explicitly focus on eliminating oxygen as the primary means of extinguishing a fire. Cooling involves lowering the temperature of the burning material, while dousing typically refers to spraying water or another extinguishing agent on the fire. Suppression generally refers to a broader range of firefighting techniques that aim to control or limit the fire's spread, but may not specifically target the exclusion of oxygen.