Question 696 Deck Safety

70% to pass

A class B fire is most successfully fought by _______________.

A preventing oxygen from reaching the burning material
B using the extinguishing agent to make the burning material fire-resistant
C cooling the burning material below its ignition temperature
D using the extinguishing agent to absorb the heat
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) preventing oxygen from reaching the burning material. The key to successfully fighting a Class B fire, which involves flammable liquids and gases, is to cut off the oxygen supply to the fire. This prevents the chemical reaction that sustains the fire from continuing. Cooling the material or making it fire-resistant (options C and B) are less effective for this type of fire, and absorbing heat (option D) does not directly address the oxygen supply. The reasoning behind this is based on the fire triangle, which outlines the three essential elements required to sustain a fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen. Cutting off the oxygen supply disrupts this triangle and extinguishes the fire.

Ready to test your knowledge?

Take a Deck Safety Practice Exam

Want to practice with timed exams?

Download Coast Guard Exams for the full exam experience with progress tracking.

Get the App