How do you remove oxygen from a fire?

How do you remove oxygen from a fire?

• A. By smothering
• B. By cooling
• C. By starving
• D. By ventilating

Answer: (A)

The idea here is depriving the flame of the air it needs to burn. Smothering works by covering the fire or sealing off the area so that little to no air reaches the flame, effectively removing the oxygen it relies on and causing the fire to go out. Cooling reduces heat but doesn’t take away the oxygen, so it’s not about removing air. Starving eliminates fuel, not oxygen. Ventilating would bring in more air, which would feed the fire rather than starve it. So the best way to remove oxygen from a fire is smothering.

The idea here is depriving the flame of the air it needs to burn. Smothering works by covering the fire or sealing off the area so that little to no air reaches the flame, effectively removing the oxygen it relies on and causing the fire to go out. Cooling reduces heat but doesn’t take away the oxygen, so it’s not about removing air. Starving eliminates fuel, not oxygen. Ventilating would bring in more air, which would feed the fire rather than starve it. So the best way to remove oxygen from a fire is smothering.