If a smoke curtain is not used to protect a stairwell, which practice helps maintain a tenable egress path during a fire?

• A. Open vents.
• B. Shield occupants with blankets.
• C. Use elevators.
• D. Close doors to compartmentalize and limit smoke.

Answer: (D)

Closing doors to compartmentalize and limit smoke helps keep a tenable egress path during a fire. Doors act as barriers that slow the movement of smoke, heat, and toxic gases from the room of origin into corridors and the stairwell. When doors stay closed, the stairwell remains clearer, with better visibility and breathable air, giving occupants a safer route to evacuate and buying time for responders.

Opening vents would feed the fire by bringing in more air, increasing smoke spread and making the path less tenable. Shielding occupants with blankets isn’t an effective way to remove smoke or heat. Elevators are unsafe during a fire because they can malfunction or trap people, delivering them into the fire area.