Certification Examination Practice

Illinois Marine Firefighting Technician Certification Examination Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• What is the primary purpose of ballast water on a marine vessel?
• To store drinking water
• To provide fuel for the engines
• To improve vessel stability by lowering center of gravity
• To supply fire-fighting water

Rationale: Ballast water is used to adjust a vessel’s draft and stability

by lowering its center of gravity, improving stability under load or in heavy seas.

• Which class of fire involves ordinary combustibles such as wood,

paper, and cloth?

• Class B 1 / 4

• Class C
• Class A
• Class D

Rationale: Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustible materials like

wood, paper, and cloth.

• What does the acronym “PPE” stand for in a fire-fighting context?
• Primary Pressure Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Portable Pump Engine
• Protective Portable Extinguisher

Rationale: PPE refers to equipment worn to minimize exposure to

hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

• What is the first action when discovering a fire aboard a vessel?
• Try to extinguish it immediately
• Sound the alarm and alert the crew
• Close all hatches
• Activate the vessel’s fire alarm and notify bridge or chief officer

Rationale: The first action is to raise the alarm so that all personnel

are alerted and rescue/response procedures begin without delay.

• In marine fire-fighting, what is a “fire boundary”?
• The area where engines are located
• A fixed firewall on deck
• A designated line beyond which fire-fighting teams should not 2 / 4

pass without orders

• The hull plating contact zone

Rationale: A fire boundary is a control line marking the perimeter of

fire-fighting operations to prevent uncontrolled spread and ensure crew safety.

• Which type of fire extinguisher is most appropriate for a Class B fire

(flammable liquids)?

• Water
• Foam or Dry Chemical
• CO₂ only
• Wet Chemical

Rationale: Foam or dry chemical extinguishers are effective on

flammable liquid fires because they smother the vapors or break the chemical reaction.

• What is the main danger when using water spray on a vessel’s fuel fire

below deck?

• Overcooling the hull
• Spreading the fuel and vapor, increasing fire spread
• Corroding the steel
• Flooding the engine room

Rationale: Water spray may spread floating fuel, distributing

flammable liquid and vapor, which can worsen the fire or cause explosion. 3 / 4

• What does the term “flashpoint” refer to?
• The temperature at which a material burns continuously
• The time it takes for a fire to ignite
• The lowest temperature at which vapors above a liquid can ignite

in air

• The temperature at which water boils

Rationale: Flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which vapors of a

volatile material will ignite when given an ignition source.

• While donning breathing apparatus (BA), what is the maximum time

generally allowed before entering a toxic environment?

• 10 seconds
• 30 seconds
• 1 minute
• 5 minutes

Rationale: BA must be donned correctly and quickly; exceeding

recommended donning time risks exposure to toxic gases before protection is in place.

• On a cargo ship, which document provides information about

hazardous materials carried onboard?

• Voyage Plan
• Hull Certificate
• Cargo Manifest or Dangerous Goods Declaration
• Crew List
• / 4