How do we identify the actual source of the fire?

• A. Listen for crackling sounds
• B. Feel for hotspots with the back of your hand - hot and cold test
• C. Look for darker smoke
• D. Smell for burnt odor

Answer: (B)

Identify the actual fire source by detecting where heat is strongest, using the hot-and-cold test with the back of the hand. The back of the hand is sensitive enough to feel heat from behind walls, around door frames, or at openings without risking a burn from direct contact. By gently testing likely paths and edges, you can sense a hotter area that points to where the fire is originating or where heat is concentrating, which helps you pinpoint the source more reliably than just watching flames or smoke.

Crackling sounds can occur anywhere and don’t reliably indicate the origin. Darker smoke suggests more combustion but not the exact source. A burnt odor can tell you something has burned, but it doesn’t reliably locate the starting point. The heat-sense method focuses on the physical cue that most directly reveals where the fire is coming from, especially in low visibility conditions.