A trained individual with a suitable fire extinguisher can usually control a(n) _____ stage fire.

A trained individual with a suitable fire extinguisher can usually control a(n) _____ stage fire.

• A. developing
• B. flare-up
• C. incipient
• D. fully developed

Answer: (C)

Fires at their earliest stage are the ones most controllable with a portable extinguisher when used by a trained person. At the incipient stage the fire is just starting, flames are small, heat is localized, and the fuel source is limited to the immediate area of origin. With the right extinguisher and proper technique, a trained individual can apply a short, directed discharge at the base of the flames and sweep to interrupt the chemical reactions feeding the fire, typically extinguishing it before it grows. If the fire progresses to a developing stage, flames spread beyond the origin, heat and fuel involvement increase, and a handheld extinguisher is unlikely to achieve full control. A flare-up may renew growth after an initial attack, requiring more resources, while a fully developed fire involves room-wide flames and high heat that exceed the capabilities of a portable extinguisher.

Fires at their earliest stage are the ones most controllable with a portable extinguisher when used by a trained person. At the incipient stage the fire is just starting, flames are small, heat is localized, and the fuel source is limited to the immediate area of origin. With the right extinguisher and proper technique, a trained individual can apply a short, directed discharge at the base of the flames and sweep to interrupt the chemical reactions feeding the fire, typically extinguishing it before it grows. If the fire progresses to a developing stage, flames spread beyond the origin, heat and fuel involvement increase, and a handheld extinguisher is unlikely to achieve full control. A flare-up may renew growth after an initial attack, requiring more resources, while a fully developed fire involves room-wide flames and high heat that exceed the capabilities of a portable extinguisher.