Question 262Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) Keeping the duct interior clean. Maintaining a clean interior of ventilation ducts is essential to reduce the possibility of a fire rapidly spreading through the duct system. Buildup of dust, lint, and other flammable materials inside the ducts can provide fuel for a fire, allowing it to quickly propagate through the ductwork. Keeping the interior surfaces clean eliminates this potential fuel source, making it more difficult for the fire to spread rapidly. The other options, while potentially useful in a fire scenario, do not directly address the root cause of the fire spreading through the ductwork. Having charged fire hoses or portable CO2 extinguishers at the duct openings, as well as keeping the exterior clean, do not prevent the fire from starting or rapidly spreading within the duct itself.