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AFF exit exam questions and answers — Set 15 — Advanced Fire Fighting

Set 15 of the Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF) exit exam bank — 30 of 517 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.

These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.

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Set 15 — 30 AFF exit exam questions with answers

1. Which item should be kept monitored and reported regularly to the command team throughout a firefighting operation using water?

  • A. The barometric pressure
  • B. The wind speed on the bridge wing only
  • C. The fuel consumption of the main engine
  • D. The ship's list, trim and draughts
Answer: D — The ship's list, trim and draughts
Changes in list, trim and draught are the earliest signs that firefighting water is accumulating. Regular reports allow the command team to adjust water application and start dewatering before stability becomes critical.

2. Before using large quantities of water on a fire in a cargo hold, which information should the officer in charge obtain?

  • A. The crew overtime records
  • B. The stability condition and the ability to drain or pump out the hold
  • C. The last port of call
  • D. The voyage charter party terms
Answer: B — The stability condition and the ability to drain or pump out the hold
Hold fires may need large volumes of water. Knowing the existing stability margin and whether the hold bilges can be pumped allows the master to decide how much water can be used safely without endangering the ship.

3. When the ship develops a list during firefighting and the GM is suspected to be negative (angle of loll), which action is dangerous?

  • A. Removing free water from upper decks
  • B. Reducing the amount of water applied
  • C. Pumping ballast into high-side tanks to bring the ship upright
  • D. Lowering the centre of gravity by removing high weights
Answer: C — Pumping ballast into high-side tanks to bring the ship upright
A list due to negative GM cannot be corrected by transferring weight to the high side; the ship may flop over to a larger angle on the other side. The cause, a high centre of gravity and free surface, must be removed instead.

4. Why should scuppers and deck drains be kept clear during firefighting operations?

  • A. To allow fresh air into the accommodation
  • B. To allow shore fire brigades to connect their hoses
  • C. To make the deck easier to clean afterwards
  • D. To allow firefighting water to drain overboard and limit free surface and added weight
Answer: D — To allow firefighting water to drain overboard and limit free surface and added weight
Blocked scuppers and drains cause water to collect on decks, adding weight high in the ship and creating free surface. Keeping them clear is a simple precaution that preserves stability during the operation.

5. Water spray and fog are preferred for stability reasons because, compared with a solid jet, they:

  • A. Convert entirely into steam and leave no water behind
  • B. Absorb more heat per unit volume, so much less water is required
  • C. Weigh less per cubic metre
  • D. Do not enter the ship's compartments
Answer: B — Absorb more heat per unit volume, so much less water is required
Fine droplets present a large surface area and absorb heat rapidly, turning partly into steam. The same cooling effect is achieved with far less water, so less weight and free surface accumulate inside the ship.

6. A ship fitted with a fixed water-based fire-extinguishing system in a ro-ro space must have arrangements to:

  • A. Transfer the water to the double-bottom tanks only
  • B. Retain all discharged water on the vehicle deck
  • C. Close all scuppers automatically when the system operates
  • D. Drain and pump the water discharged so as to prevent a build-up of free surface
Answer: D — Drain and pump the water discharged so as to prevent a build-up of free surface
SOLAS II-2/20 requires drainage and pumping arrangements in ro-ro and vehicle spaces protected by water systems so that the discharged water does not accumulate and seriously reduce stability through free surface effect.

7. Under STCW Table A-VI/3, what is the purpose of investigating an incident involving fire on board?

  • A. To decide the ship's next port
  • B. To calculate the insurance claim
  • C. To assess the cause of the fire and prevent its recurrence
  • D. To find a crew member to blame
Answer: C — To assess the cause of the fire and prevent its recurrence
STCW Table A-VI/3 includes the competence of investigating and compiling reports on incidents involving fire, with emphasis on assessing the cause. The aim is to identify root causes and corrective actions so that similar fires do not recur.

8. When examining a fire scene, the point of origin of the fire is usually indicated by:

  • A. The area furthest from the deepest charring
  • B. The position of the nearest fire extinguisher
  • C. The area of deepest charring and the apex of V-shaped burn patterns
  • D. The location where the fire was finally extinguished
Answer: C — The area of deepest charring and the apex of V-shaped burn patterns
Fire burns longest at its origin, producing the deepest charring, and spreads upwards and outwards to form V-shaped patterns on bulkheads. The base or apex of the V points back towards where the fire started.

9. Immediately after a fire has been extinguished, what should be done to support the subsequent investigation?

  • A. Clean the area and repaint it as quickly as possible
  • B. Restart the ventilation and leave the area open to all
  • C. Throw away all burnt debris overboard
  • D. Preserve the scene, restrict access and photograph it before anything is moved
Answer: D — Preserve the scene, restrict access and photograph it before anything is moved
Evidence such as burn patterns, failed components and debris is easily lost. Restricting access and photographing the scene before clearing it, consistent with safety, allows the cause to be established reliably.

10. Why should witnesses of a shipboard fire be interviewed as soon as practicable?

  • A. Their recollection is most accurate and least influenced by others soon after the event
  • B. Interviews are only valid within one hour
  • C. It replaces the need for physical evidence
  • D. It allows the master to avoid making a report
Answer: A — Their recollection is most accurate and least influenced by others soon after the event
Memory fades and becomes influenced by discussion with others. Early, separate interviews with the persons who discovered and fought the fire give the most reliable account of how and where the fire began and developed.

11. Following a serious fire, which electronic record should be saved without delay to preserve information for the investigation?

  • A. The voyage data recorder (VDR) data
  • B. The weather fax archive
  • C. The ship's entertainment system log
  • D. The crew's personal mobile phone records
Answer: A — The voyage data recorder (VDR) data
The VDR records bridge audio, alarms and other data. Unless saved promptly it may be overwritten, so after a serious incident the data should be preserved for the marine safety investigation.

12. Under the ISM Code, a fire on board must be reported and analysed as part of which requirement?

  • A. Documentation control
  • B. Reports and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences
  • C. Resources and personnel
  • D. Company responsibilities and authority
Answer: B — Reports and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences
ISM Code element 9 requires that accidents and hazardous occurrences be reported to the Company, investigated and analysed, and that corrective action be implemented to improve safety and prevent recurrence.

13. A fire report compiled by the ship's officers should include:

  • A. Only the weather conditions
  • B. Time and location of discovery, actions taken, systems used, injuries, damage and the probable cause
  • C. Only the cost of damaged equipment
  • D. Only the name of the person who discovered the fire
Answer: B — Time and location of discovery, actions taken, systems used, injuries, damage and the probable cause
A useful fire report gives a factual chronology covering discovery, alarm, actions, equipment and extinguishing systems used, casualties, damage and probable cause, so that the Company and authorities can learn from the incident.

14. When analysing the cause of a fire, the investigator seeks to identify the ignition source and the:

  • A. Number of crew on board
  • B. Colour of the paint on the bulkheads
  • C. Brand of the extinguishers used
  • D. Fuel first ignited and the circumstances that brought them together
Answer: D — Fuel first ignited and the circumstances that brought them together
Every fire requires a fuel, an ignition source and oxygen. Establishing which material was first ignited, by what source and why they came together reveals the root cause and the preventive measures needed.

15. Which IMO instrument sets out the international standards for the marine safety investigation of a very serious marine casualty, such as a fire causing loss of life?

  • A. The Casualty Investigation Code
  • B. The Fire Safety Systems Code
  • C. The International Safety Management Code
  • D. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code
Answer: A — The Casualty Investigation Code
The Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code), made mandatory through SOLAS Chapter XI-1, requires flag States to investigate very serious marine casualties.

16. During a fire investigation, the main purpose of examining melted or failed electrical components is to determine whether:

  • A. The equipment was under warranty
  • B. The electrical fault caused the fire or was damaged by it
  • C. The crew had read the manufacturer's manual
  • D. The equipment was correctly painted
Answer: B — The electrical fault caused the fire or was damaged by it
Electrical damage can be either the cause or a result of a fire. Examining arcing marks and their location relative to the origin helps the investigator decide whether an electrical fault was the ignition source.

17. Which entry is required in the ship's log book following a fire on board?

  • A. No entry is required if the fire was extinguished quickly
  • B. Only the time the fire alarm was reset
  • C. Only the names of injured persons
  • D. A factual record of the fire, actions taken and its outcome
Answer: D — A factual record of the fire, actions taken and its outcome
Fires, emergencies and the measures taken must be recorded in the official log. The entries form part of the evidence for the investigation and for reporting the incident to the Company and the flag Administration.

18. The main aim of a lessons-learned review after a shipboard fire is to:

  • A. Replace the master
  • B. Share findings and corrective actions across the fleet so similar fires are prevented
  • C. Close the investigation as quickly as possible
  • D. Discipline all members of the fire party
Answer: B — Share findings and corrective actions across the fleet so similar fires are prevented
Lessons learned turn the findings of an investigation into changes to procedures, maintenance and training. Sharing them across the Company's fleet is how the ISM system prevents the same type of fire occurring elsewhere.

19. What is the recommended first aid for a thermal burn on a crew member's arm?

  • A. Burst any blisters to release the fluid
  • B. Cool the burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes
  • C. Apply butter or oil to the burn
  • D. Apply ice directly to the skin for an hour
Answer: B — Cool the burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes
Current first aid guidance is to cool a thermal burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes, which reduces tissue damage and pain. Ice, fats and bursting blisters damage tissue and increase the risk of infection.

20. When giving first aid to a burns casualty, clothing that is stuck to the burnt skin should be:

  • A. Removed together with the skin
  • B. Pulled off quickly
  • C. Soaked in fuel and removed
  • D. Left in place and cut around
Answer: D — Left in place and cut around
Removing clothing that adheres to a burn tears the damaged skin and increases pain and infection risk. Loose clothing and jewellery are removed, but adhered material is left in place and cut around.

21. Using the 'rule of nines', what percentage of the body surface area is represented by the front of the trunk of an adult?

  • A. 18%
  • B. 9%
  • C. 36%
  • D. 27%
Answer: A — 18%
In the rule of nines each arm and the head are 9%, each leg, the front of the trunk and the back of the trunk are 18% each, and the perineum 1%. It is used to estimate the extent of burns.

22. A small or scattered burn area can be estimated by using the casualty's own palm and fingers, which represents about:

  • A. 1% of the body surface area
  • B. 5% of the body surface area
  • C. 10% of the body surface area
  • D. 0.1% of the body surface area
Answer: A — 1% of the body surface area
The casualty's palm including the fingers is approximately 1% of their body surface area. This is a quick way to estimate irregular burns when the rule of nines is difficult to apply.

23. After cooling, which is a suitable dressing for a burn while awaiting further medical advice?

  • A. Adhesive plaster stuck on the burn
  • B. Cotton wool pressed onto the burn
  • C. A tight bandage soaked in antiseptic
  • D. Cling film laid loosely over the burn
Answer: D — Cling film laid loosely over the burn
Cling film laid lengthwise and loosely over a cooled burn protects it from infection without sticking to the wound. Fluffy materials and adhesive dressings stick to the burn and cause further damage when removed.

24. A firefighter rescued from a smoke-filled space has soot around the nose and mouth and a hoarse voice. This most likely indicates:

  • A. A minor skin irritation only
  • B. Possible burns to the airway from inhaling hot gases
  • C. Dehydration only
  • D. A fractured jaw
Answer: B — Possible burns to the airway from inhaling hot gases
Soot around the mouth and nose, singed nasal hair and a hoarse voice suggest inhalation injury. The airway can swell quickly, so the casualty needs close monitoring, oxygen if available and urgent medical advice.

25. What is the most important treatment for a casualty suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after a fire?

  • A. Lay the casualty in the space until the smoke clears
  • B. Give hot drinks and keep in the smoky area
  • C. Give the casualty alcohol to warm up
  • D. Remove to fresh air and give high-concentration oxygen
Answer: D — Remove to fresh air and give high-concentration oxygen
Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin and blocks oxygen transport. Removing the casualty to fresh air and administering high-flow oxygen speeds the elimination of CO; resuscitation is started if the casualty stops breathing.

26. A crew member has collapsed in a space where CO2 has been released. What must the rescuers do before entering?

  • A. Put on self-contained breathing apparatus and follow the rescue plan
  • B. Wear a dust mask
  • C. Hold their breath and run in quickly
  • D. Enter immediately without protection to save time
Answer: A — Put on self-contained breathing apparatus and follow the rescue plan
A CO2-flooded space cannot support life and unprotected rescuers will collapse in seconds. Rescuers must wear SCBA and work under the organised rescue procedure before removing the casualty to fresh air.

27. What first aid is appropriate for a chemical burn to the skin caused by a corrosive cargo during a fire?

  • A. Cover immediately with an airtight dressing without washing
  • B. Neutralise the chemical with another chemical
  • C. Flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for a prolonged period
  • D. Wipe the area with a dry cloth only
Answer: C — Flush the affected area with copious amounts of water for a prolonged period
Copious and prolonged irrigation with water dilutes and removes the chemical. Attempting neutralisation can cause a heat-producing reaction; the cargo's Safety Data Sheet and the MFAG give further specific treatment.

28. Before touching a casualty who has collapsed beside burning electrical equipment, the rescuer must:

  • A. Throw water over the casualty
  • B. Check the casualty's pulse first
  • C. Ensure the electrical supply is isolated
  • D. Apply a CO2 extinguisher to the casualty
Answer: C — Ensure the electrical supply is isolated
An electrical casualty may still be in contact with live equipment. Isolating the supply first prevents the rescuer from also receiving an electric shock; only then are the casualty's breathing and circulation assessed.

29. A casualty with extensive burns is at particular risk of:

  • A. Hypothermia only from the burns
  • B. Fractures
  • C. Shock due to fluid loss
  • D. Snow blindness
Answer: C — Shock due to fluid loss
Large burns allow considerable fluid to leak from damaged tissue, leading to hypovolaemic shock. The casualty is kept lying down, monitored and given urgent medical advice; cooling of large burns must avoid causing hypothermia.

30. During a prolonged firefighting operation, firefighters showing signs of heat exhaustion should be:

  • A. Sent back in after a short drink
  • B. Left in the attack team until the fire is out
  • C. Relieved, moved to a cool area, rested and given fluids
  • D. Given additional protective clothing
Answer: C — Relieved, moved to a cool area, rested and given fluids
Heavy work in protective clothing near a fire causes heat stress. Rotating teams and treating affected firefighters with rest, cooling and fluids prevents progression to heat stroke and keeps the fire party effective.

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