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FPFF exit exam questions and answers — Set 20 — Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting

Set 20 of the Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (FPFF) exit exam bank — 30 of 656 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 20 — 30 FPFF exit exam questions with answers

1. During a search in thick smoke, what should a BA team do if the hose or guideline they followed in is lost?

  • A. Continue the search and rely on finding another exit
  • B. Remove the face mask to see better at deck level
  • C. Stop, keep together, report by radio and retrace the route by wall contact
  • D. Separate to search for the line in different directions
Answer: C — Stop, keep together, report by radio and retrace the route by wall contact
Losing the hose or guideline is an emergency. The team should not separate; they report their situation to the entry control point and retrace their route keeping contact with the bulkhead, while a back-up team can be sent along the hose to locate them.

2. Why should a fire-fighter not stand fully upright when advancing in a hot, smoke-filled compartment?

  • A. Temperatures and smoke are much more severe near the deckhead than near the deck
  • B. The face mask cannot seal when the head is raised
  • C. The lifeline would be pulled too tight
  • D. Standing upright reduces the air flow from the SCBA
Answer: A — Temperatures and smoke are much more severe near the deckhead than near the deck
Hot gases and smoke rise and form a layer under the deckhead, so heat increases sharply with height. Moving crouched or low keeps the wearer in the cooler zone, improves visibility and reduces heat stress and the risk of burns.

3. When should a standby BA team be ready at the entry point during an attack with SCBA?

  • A. Only when the fire has been extinguished
  • B. As soon as the first team enters, fully dressed and checked
  • C. Only after the first team has failed to return
  • D. Only when the Master orders abandon ship
Answer: B — As soon as the first team enters, fully dressed and checked
A fully equipped and checked standby team must be ready at the entry point whenever a team is committed, so that a wearer in distress, an overdue team or an injured fire-fighter can be rescued without delay.

4. What is the purpose of the negative-pressure face mask check carried out when donning SCBA?

  • A. To test the low-pressure warning whistle
  • B. To measure the remaining cylinder pressure
  • C. To check that the demand valve is closed
  • D. To confirm the mask seals properly on the face
Answer: D — To confirm the mask seals properly on the face
With the supply blocked or demand valve disconnected, the wearer inhales; the mask should be pulled onto the face and hold. If air leaks in, the seal is faulty, so smoke could enter in use and the mask must be readjusted before entry.

5. Under the FSS Code, before the air in an SCBA cylinder has fallen to what volume must the audible alarm warn the wearer?

  • A. 50 litres
  • B. 1200 litres
  • C. 600 litres
  • D. 200 litres
Answer: D — 200 litres
FSS Code chapter 3 requires SCBA to be fitted with an audible alarm and a visual or other device which alerts the user before the air volume in the cylinder has been reduced to no less than 200 litres, leaving a reserve for escape.

6. Under SOLAS II-2/10.10, how many spare charges must normally be carried for each required breathing apparatus?

  • A. Four spare charges
  • B. Three spare charges
  • C. One spare charge
  • D. Two spare charges
Answer: D — Two spare charges
SOLAS requires two spare charges for each required breathing apparatus. Cargo ships equipped with suitably located means for fully recharging air cylinders free from contamination need carry only one spare charge for each required apparatus.

7. What is the minimum number of two-way portable radiotelephones that SOLAS requires for each fire party for fire-fighters' communication?

  • A. Two
  • B. One
  • C. Four
  • D. Three
Answer: A — Two
SOLAS II-2/10.10.4 requires a minimum of two two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for each fire party for fire-fighters' communication; on tankers and ships with restricted areas they must be explosion-proof or intrinsically safe.

8. What is the minimum burning period required for the electric safety lamp forming part of a fire-fighter's outfit?

  • A. One hour
  • B. Three hours
  • C. Thirty minutes
  • D. Twelve hours
Answer: B — Three hours
The FSS Code requires the fire-fighter's outfit to include an approved electric safety lamp (hand lantern) with a minimum burning period of three hours; lamps on tankers and for hazardous areas must be of an explosion-proof type.

9. For which purpose is an Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD) NOT to be used?

  • A. Escaping from a machinery space after a fire alarm
  • B. Evacuating through a smoke-logged escape trunk
  • C. Escaping from a smoke-filled accommodation
  • D. Fighting fires or entering oxygen-deficient tanks
Answer: D — Fighting fires or entering oxygen-deficient tanks
An EEBD is a short-duration device intended only for escape from a hazardous atmosphere. It must not be used for fire fighting, for entering oxygen-deficient voids or tanks, or worn by fire-fighters, for which SCBA is required.

10. Under SOLAS II-2/13, at least how many EEBDs must be carried within the accommodation spaces of a cargo ship?

  • A. Four
  • B. Two
  • C. One
  • D. Six
Answer: B — Two
SOLAS II-2/13.3.4 requires all cargo ships to carry at least two emergency escape breathing devices within accommodation spaces, in addition to those required in machinery spaces according to the fire safety guidance on their number and location.

11. Which item is required by the FSS Code as part of the personal equipment of a fire-fighter's outfit?

  • A. A portable foam applicator
  • B. A gas-tight chemical suit
  • C. A portable CO2 extinguisher
  • D. An axe with a handle provided with high-voltage insulation
Answer: D — An axe with a handle provided with high-voltage insulation
Personal equipment comprises protective clothing, boots and gloves of non-electrically conductive material, a rigid helmet, an approved electric safety lamp of at least three hours and an axe whose handle has high-voltage insulation.

12. After a fire in a cabin has been knocked down with water, what is meant by 'overhaul'?

  • A. Re-stowing fire hoses on their racks
  • B. Searching for and extinguishing hidden hot spots and smouldering material
  • C. Servicing the fire pumps after use
  • D. Repainting and refurbishing the damaged cabin
Answer: B — Searching for and extinguishing hidden hot spots and smouldering material
Overhaul means opening up linings, turning over debris and dampening smouldering material so that hidden pockets of fire cannot rekindle. It is carried out before the fire is declared out and a re-ignition watch is then maintained.

13. After an engine-room fire has been extinguished by the fixed CO2 system, why is the space not ventilated and opened immediately?

  • A. The CO2 alarm cannot be silenced until the space is opened
  • B. Ventilation fans cannot run in a CO2 atmosphere
  • C. CO2 must be recovered back into the cylinders first
  • D. Hot surfaces may re-ignite fuel when fresh air is admitted
Answer: D — Hot surfaces may re-ignite fuel when fresh air is admitted
CO2 smothers but has little cooling effect, so metal and fuel may remain above ignition temperature. Opening the space early admits oxygen and can cause re-ignition; boundaries are kept cooled and the space left closed until it has cooled sufficiently.

14. Before personnel enter a space without breathing apparatus after a fire, which atmosphere checks are required?

  • A. Only the temperature of the space
  • B. Oxygen content, toxic gases such as CO, and flammable vapours
  • C. Only the CO2 cylinder pressures
  • D. Only the humidity of the space
Answer: B — Oxygen content, toxic gases such as CO, and flammable vapours
A space after a fire may be oxygen-deficient and contain carbon monoxide, other toxic combustion products and flammable vapours. Entry without breathing apparatus is allowed only after testing confirms a safe oxygen level and no harmful or flammable gases.

15. Why is a re-ignition (fire) watch kept at the scene after a fire has been declared extinguished?

  • A. To wait for the classification surveyor to arrive
  • B. To prevent the space from being used by the crew
  • C. Smouldering material or heated surfaces may cause the fire to flare up again
  • D. To keep the fire hoses pressurised for the drill record
Answer: C — Smouldering material or heated surfaces may cause the fire to flare up again
Deep-seated or concealed fires can smoulder unseen and rekindle hours later. A watch with charged hoses or extinguishers checks the area and adjacent compartments for heat and smoke so any flare-up is tackled immediately.

16. In fire investigation, what does a V-shaped burn pattern on a bulkhead usually indicate?

  • A. The bulkhead is an A-60 division
  • B. The fire was extinguished with foam
  • C. The fire started at the deckhead above the V
  • D. The point of origin is at or near the bottom of the V
Answer: D — The point of origin is at or near the bottom of the V
Flames and hot gases rise and spread outward from their source, leaving a V-shaped burn pattern widening upward. The low point of the V generally points towards the area where the fire started, a useful clue for investigators.

17. Why should the fire scene be disturbed as little as possible once the fire is out and the area made safe?

  • A. To avoid having to make a log-book entry
  • B. Because the debris is needed for the next drill
  • C. So that the insurance surveyor can repair it
  • D. To preserve evidence for investigation into the cause of the fire
Answer: D — To preserve evidence for investigation into the cause of the fire
Evidence such as burn patterns, failed equipment and ignition sources is needed to determine the cause. Preserving the scene, photographing it, saving VDR data and recording witness statements supports the investigation and prevents recurrence.

18. After a fire has been dealt with, which action is part of restoring the ship's fire-fighting readiness?

  • A. Removing the fire control plan for updating ashore
  • B. Draining the fire main permanently
  • C. Disconnecting the fire detection system until repairs are complete
  • D. Recharging used extinguishers and refilling BA cylinders
Answer: D — Recharging used extinguishers and refilling BA cylinders
Before the ship can respond to another fire, used extinguishers must be recharged or replaced, BA cylinders refilled, hoses drained, dried and restowed, and fixed systems reinstated or replenished, with any equipment not yet available reported to the Master.

19. Under the ISM Code, what must the ship's safety management system include regarding a fire on board?

  • A. A requirement to report only to the port State
  • B. A rule that only fires causing injuries are reported
  • C. An exemption for fires extinguished with portable extinguishers
  • D. Procedures for reporting accidents and hazardous occurrences to the Company for investigation
Answer: D — Procedures for reporting accidents and hazardous occurrences to the Company for investigation
ISM Code element 9 requires procedures ensuring that non-conformities, accidents and hazardous situations are reported to the Company, investigated and analysed, with corrective action taken. A fire is such an occurrence, and the flag Administration must also be informed as required.

20. Where should details of a fire on board, the actions taken and the equipment used be formally recorded?

  • A. In the ship's official log book
  • B. Only in the fire-fighter's personal notebook
  • C. In the oil record book
  • D. Only on the fire control plan
Answer: A — In the ship's official log book
The fire, its time, location, actions taken, equipment and extinguishing media used, injuries and damage must be entered in the official log book, forming the legal record that supports the Master's report and any investigation.

21. Following a fire, re-entry teams find that the bulkheads of an adjacent compartment are still hot. What should be done?

  • A. Continue boundary cooling and inspect the adjacent space for fire spread
  • B. Ignore it since the main fire is out
  • C. Stop all cooling to prevent water damage
  • D. Open all ventilation to the adjacent space at once
Answer: A — Continue boundary cooling and inspect the adjacent space for fire spread
Heat conducted through steel bulkheads can ignite materials on the other side. Hot boundaries mean the danger persists, so boundary cooling continues and adjacent spaces are checked for smoke, heat or secondary fires until temperatures have fallen.

22. What is the recommended first aid for a thermal burn to a crew member's forearm?

  • A. Apply ice directly to the burn for 5 minutes
  • B. Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes
  • C. Cover the burn with butter or grease
  • D. Burst any blisters and leave the burn open to the air
Answer: B — Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes
Current first-aid guidance is to cool a thermal burn with cool (not ice-cold) running water for at least 20 minutes, which limits tissue damage and pain. Ice, grease and bursting blisters increase injury and infection risk.

23. After cooling a burn, which covering is most suitable before the casualty receives further medical care?

  • A. Cotton wool pressed onto the burn
  • B. Adhesive plaster stuck directly on the burnt skin
  • C. A tight bandage wound firmly around the limb
  • D. Cling film or a sterile non-fluffy dressing applied loosely
Answer: D — Cling film or a sterile non-fluffy dressing applied loosely
Burns should be covered loosely with cling film or a sterile non-adherent dressing to protect from infection without sticking. Fluffy material sticks to the wound and tight wrapping can restrict circulation as swelling develops.

24. A fire-fighter's clothing is stuck to a burn on his leg. What should the first-aider do?

  • A. Soak the clothing in fuel oil to loosen it
  • B. Pull the clothing off quickly to expose the burn
  • C. Cut the skin around the clothing to free it
  • D. Leave the stuck clothing in place and cool over it
Answer: D — Leave the stuck clothing in place and cool over it
Clothing adhering to a burn must not be pulled off, as this tears damaged skin. Loose clothing and jewellery are removed before swelling starts, but stuck material is left in place and cooling is applied over it.

25. Under the 'rule of nines', what percentage of body surface area is represented by one entire arm of an adult?

  • A. 18%
  • B. 27%
  • C. 1%
  • D. 9%
Answer: D — 9%
The rule of nines estimates burn area in adults: head 9%, each arm 9%, front of trunk 18%, back of trunk 18%, each leg 18% and perineum 1%. The estimate helps judge severity and fluid needs.

26. For estimating small or scattered burns, approximately what percentage of body surface area does the casualty's own palm with fingers represent?

  • A. About 5%
  • B. About 0.1%
  • C. About 9%
  • D. About 1%
Answer: D — About 1%
The palm of the casualty's own hand, including fingers, is about 1% of total body surface area. It is a quick way to estimate the extent of irregular or scattered burns where the rule of nines is less practical.

27. Which signs in a casualty rescued from a smoke-filled cabin suggest burns to the airway?

  • A. Cold, pale feet
  • B. A small blister on one finger
  • C. Soot around the mouth and nose, singed nasal hair and a hoarse voice
  • D. A slow but regular pulse with no other signs
Answer: C — Soot around the mouth and nose, singed nasal hair and a hoarse voice
Soot around the nose and mouth, singed facial or nasal hair, hoarseness, coughing and difficulty breathing indicate inhalation injury. Airway swelling can develop quickly, so the casualty needs oxygen, close monitoring and urgent medical advice.

28. Why is carbon monoxide inhaled during a fire so dangerous to casualties?

  • A. It causes immediate severe skin burns
  • B. It is heavier than water and fills the lungs
  • C. It binds to haemoglobin far more readily than oxygen, starving tissues of oxygen
  • D. It neutralises the effect of breathing apparatus
Answer: C — It binds to haemoglobin far more readily than oxygen, starving tissues of oxygen
Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin about 200 to 250 times more readily than oxygen, forming carboxyhaemoglobin and preventing oxygen transport. Victims may become confused and unconscious, so they are removed to fresh air and given high-concentration oxygen.

29. Why can a pulse oximeter reading be misleading in a casualty with carbon monoxide poisoning?

  • A. It always shows zero in a smoke victim
  • B. It is affected by the colour of the casualty's clothing
  • C. It may show normal oxygen saturation because it cannot distinguish carboxyhaemoglobin
  • D. It measures only the casualty's temperature
Answer: C — It may show normal oxygen saturation because it cannot distinguish carboxyhaemoglobin
Standard pulse oximeters read carboxyhaemoglobin as if it were oxygenated haemoglobin, giving a falsely normal saturation. Smoke casualties should therefore be given high-flow oxygen based on history and symptoms, not on the oximeter reading.

30. A crew member has a chemical splashed onto his skin while fighting a cargo fire. What is the first-aid priority?

  • A. Neutralise the chemical with another chemical from the store
  • B. Apply burn ointment immediately without washing
  • C. Wipe the chemical off with a dry cloth and continue working
  • D. Remove contaminated clothing and irrigate with copious water for at least 20 minutes
Answer: D — Remove contaminated clothing and irrigate with copious water for at least 20 minutes
Chemical burns are treated by removing contaminated clothing, taking care not to contaminate the rescuer, and flooding the area with plenty of water for at least 20 minutes. Neutralising agents can cause further heat injury; the SDS gives specific advice.

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