Fire safety quiz: 40 questions with answers

The US Fire Administration estimates there were 110,000 nonresidential building fires in 2023 in the United States, with 130 deaths and 1,200 injuries. A quiz is a quick way to check that your team knows what to do before one starts.

This fire safety quiz has 40 questions with answers in four rounds of 10: prevention, extinguishers, evacuation and workplace fire plans. Every answer is traced to OSHA's regulations or the US Fire Administration, so you can read the source behind it. Use it for a fire warden refresher, an induction or Fire Prevention Week.

A note on scope: the questions follow US federal rules. Your emergency action plan and fire prevention plan only exist where an OSHA standard requires one, and local fire codes and your own site plan always come first. If your country has its own rules, use the questions as a prompt and swap in your local answers.

Round 1: Prevention

Most workplace fires start small and avoidably. These ten questions cover the everyday causes and the housekeeping that stops them.

Set 1: Everyday causes5 questions

1What should you do with a frayed or damaged extension cord?
AnswerStop using it and report it. USFA's advice is to check outlets, cords and cables for damage, so a damaged cord should not stay in use. USFA: workplace fire safety
2What should be kept away from electrical equipment?
AnswerAnything that can burn, such as paper, cardboard and fabric. USFA: workplace fire safety
3True or false: it is fine to leave a portable heater on when you step out for a few minutes.
AnswerFalse. Never leave portable heating devices unattended. USFA: workplace fire safety
4What must a fire prevention plan include about flammable and combustible waste?
AnswerProcedures to control accumulations of it. OSHA 1910.39
5Besides a list of major fire hazards, what else must a fire prevention plan cover?
AnswerHandling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment needed to control each major hazard. OSHA 1910.39

Set 2: Housekeeping and safeguards5 questions

6Who must a fire prevention plan name as responsible for maintaining equipment that prevents or controls ignition sources?
AnswerThe name or job title of the employees responsible for maintaining that equipment. OSHA 1910.39
7True or false: you may store boxes in an exit route for a few hours.
Our pick: answerFalse. No materials or equipment may be placed in an exit route, permanently or temporarily. OSHA 1910.37
8What must exit routes be kept free of?
AnswerExplosive or highly flammable furnishings and decorations. OSHA 1910.37
9How often must sprinklers, alarms, fire doors and exit lighting be in proper working order?
AnswerAt all times. OSHA 1910.37
10Where does USFA say fire escape plans should be posted?
AnswerClearly, on every level of a building. USFA: workplace fire safety

Our pick: question 7. A box left in an exit route is an easy slip, and the rule allows no exception for "just a few hours".

Round 2: Extinguishers

Knowing when to use an extinguisher matters as much as how. The answers follow OSHA's eTool pages and the portable fire extinguisher standard.

Set 1: Using one5 questions

11What does PASS stand for?
AnswerPull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. OSHA eTool: using an extinguisher
12Where do you aim a fire extinguisher?
AnswerLow, at the base of the fire. OSHA eTool: using an extinguisher
13What does pulling the pin also break?
AnswerThe tamper seal. OSHA eTool: using an extinguisher
14The extinguisher is empty and the fire is not out. What do you do?
AnswerLeave right away and evacuate. Do not keep trying to fight it. OSHA eTool: using an extinguisher
15You have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight a fire. What do you do?
Our pick: answerEvacuate immediately. OSHA eTool: using an extinguisher

Set 2: Choosing and maintaining5 questions

16Which extinguisher class covers cooking oils and fats, such as a deep fat fryer?
AnswerClass K. OSHA eTool: extinguisher basics
17Can you use a water extinguisher on a flammable liquid fire?
AnswerNo. Water is for class A fires only, and on flammable liquid it can spread the fire. OSHA eTool: extinguisher basics
18Which fire classes is a multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher suitable for?
AnswerClasses A, B and C. OSHA eTool: extinguisher basics
19How often must portable extinguishers be visually inspected, and how often given a maintenance check?
AnswerVisually inspected monthly, with an annual maintenance check. OSHA 1910.157
20What is the maximum travel distance to a class A extinguisher under OSHA's distribution rule?
Answer75 feet (22.9 m). OSHA 1910.157

Our pick: question 15. Knowing when not to fight the fire is the most important extinguisher skill.

Round 3: Evacuation

An emergency action plan only works if people know it. These ten questions come from the emergency action plan and exit route standards.

Set 1: The emergency action plan5 questions

21Must an emergency action plan be in writing?
AnswerYes, kept in the workplace and available to employees. An employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally. OSHA 1910.38
22What must the plan set out about people after an evacuation?
AnswerProcedures to account for all employees. OSHA 1910.38
23What must the employee alarm system use?
AnswerA distinctive signal for each purpose. OSHA 1910.38
24What must an employer designate and train some employees to do?
AnswerAssist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees. OSHA 1910.38
25When must the plan be reviewed with each employee?
AnswerWhen it is developed or the employee is first assigned, when their responsibilities change, and when the plan changes. OSHA 1910.38

Set 2: Exits and signs5 questions

26How many exit routes must a workplace have?
AnswerAt least two, as far apart as practical, unless a single route is enough for everyone to evacuate safely. OSHA 1910.36
27Can an exit door require a key or special knowledge to open from the inside?
Our pick: answerNo. Employees must be able to open it from the inside at all times without keys, tools or special knowledge. OSHA 1910.36
28How tall must the letters on an exit sign be?
AnswerAt least six inches (15.2 cm) high. OSHA 1910.37
29How must a doorway that could be mistaken for an exit be marked?
Answer"Not an Exit" or a similar designation, or a sign showing its actual use, such as "Closet". OSHA 1910.37
30Who can employees contact for more information about the plan?
AnswerThe plan must list the name or job title of every employee who can be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under it. OSHA 1910.38

Our pick: question 27. An exit door that needs a key or special knowledge defeats the whole plan, so it is worth checking on your next walk round.

Round 4: Workplace fire plans

The last round covers what employers must put in place, from the fire prevention plan to extinguisher training.

Set 1: Plans and training5 questions

31Must a fire prevention plan be in writing?
AnswerYes, kept in the workplace and available for review. An employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally. OSHA 1910.39
32When must employees be told about the fire hazards of their job?
Our pick: answerWhen they are first assigned to the job. OSHA 1910.39
33How often must employees get education on using extinguishers where the employer provides them?
AnswerOn initial employment and at least annually. OSHA 1910.157
34How often must employees designated to use firefighting equipment be trained?
AnswerOn initial assignment and at least annually. OSHA 1910.157
35Who must the plan name as responsible for controlling fuel source hazards?
AnswerThe name or job title of the employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards. OSHA 1910.39

Set 2: Equipment and exemptions5 questions

36What must a plan require for safeguards on heat-producing equipment?
AnswerRegular maintenance, to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials. OSHA 1910.39
37How long must the annual extinguisher maintenance record be kept?
AnswerOne year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. OSHA 1910.157
38What must the employer provide while an extinguisher is out for maintenance or recharging?
AnswerAlternate equivalent protection. OSHA 1910.157
39Can an employer be exempt from the extinguisher standard?
AnswerYes, unless a specific standard in part 1910 requires an extinguisher: with a written policy of immediate and total evacuation on the alarm, plans that meet 1910.38 and 1910.39, and no extinguishers available in the workplace. OSHA 1910.157
40What is the maximum travel distance to a class B extinguisher under OSHA's distribution rule?
Answer50 feet (15.2 m), measured from the class B hazard area. OSHA 1910.157

Our pick: question 32. Fire hazards on day one are easier to teach than to fix after a near miss.

Ways to host this quiz with AhaSlides

Run each round as a ten-minute block, one question at a time, and let people answer on their phones. Five slide types cover the whole session:

Pick Answer: turn each question into a multiple-choice slide and show a team leaderboard after every round. Question 11 (what PASS stands for) is a good opener.
Word Cloud: ask "Where is your nearest exit?" The spread of answers shows who has never walked the route.
Pin on Image Quiz: add your floor plan and ask players to pin the extinguisher nearest their desk. Results show every pin and how many were right.
Rating Scale: "How ready do you feel for a drill?" from 1 to 5. A cluster of low scores tells you who needs a walk-through.
Open Ended: collect one question for your fire warden anonymously and answer the top three out loud.

Ready-made slides save the typing. The Emergency action and fire prevention plans course template gives you a structure to adapt, and the same questions drop straight into it.

Tips for running a fire safety quiz

Run it in October. NFPA's Fire Prevention Week dates change each year. In 2026 it ran from 4 to 10 October, so take each year's dates from NFPA.
Keep each round to 10 minutes. Ten questions is about right for one session, so four rounds make four short sessions rather than one long one.
Use the numbers. Open with the USFA figure of 110,000 nonresidential fires in 2023, then ask what would happen in your building.
Finish with your own site. The quiz covers the standard. Close by asking where your own extinguishers, exits and assembly point are.
Do not treat it as training. A quiz checks knowledge. Employees expected to use an extinguisher still need the training the standard requires.

Frequently asked questions

What are good fire safety quiz questions?

Questions on prevention, extinguishers, evacuation and your site's own plan. This quiz has 40 across those four areas, each with its source.

How many questions should a fire safety quiz have?

Around 10 per session. Ten questions take about ten minutes and keep people paying attention, so split a longer quiz into rounds.

When is Fire Prevention Week?

In October. In 2026 it ran from 4 to 10 October, and NFPA publishes each year's dates and theme on its Fire Prevention Week page.

What does PASS stand for?

Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, then sweep from side to side until the fire appears to be out.

Host your fire safety quiz

Start from the ready-made course template and adapt the questions above to your own site.

This post is general information, not legal advice. For a decision about your own workplace, speak to a qualified safety professional or the regulator.

Use this template

Sources

[1] OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.36, Design and construction requirements for exit routes. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.36

[2] OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.37

[3] OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency action plans. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.38

[4] OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.39, Fire prevention plans. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.39

[5] OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.157

[6] OSHA eTool. Portable fire extinguishers: using an extinguisher. https://www.osha.gov/etools/evacuation-plans-procedures/emergency-standards/portable-extinguishers/use

[7] OSHA eTool. Portable fire extinguishers: extinguisher basics. https://www.osha.gov/etools/evacuation-plans-procedures/emergency-standards/portable-extinguishers/about

[8] US Fire Administration. Workplace fire safety. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/workplace-fires/

[9] US Fire Administration. Nonresidential fire estimate summaries (2014-2023). https://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/nonresidential-fires/

[10] NFPA. Fire Prevention Week. https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week

Regulation text read on the eCFR (current to 1 October 2026) and OSHA eTool pages on 22 October 2026.