If you spot a large fire, which action should you take first?

• A. Call 911 and begin evacuation immediately
• B. Attempt to extinguish the fire yourself
• C. Hide and wait for instructions
• D. Notify a coworker before acting

Answer: (B)

When a large fire is spotted, safety comes first: get yourself and others out and call for help. Evacuate immediately using the nearest safe exit, alerting people as you go so they can leave too. Once you’re safely outside, contact emergency services or trigger the building alarm if you haven’t already. Fire grows quickly and produces dangerous smoke, so delaying evacuation to try to fight it or to check with someone else puts you at serious risk. Fire extinguishing is only appropriate if the fire is small, you have a clear path to an exit, and you’re trained to use the extinguisher; otherwise, abandon the attempt and focus on getting out.