In fire operations, what does RACE stand for?

• A. Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish.
• B. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Evacuate.
• C. Respond, Assess, Control, Evacuate.
• D. Rescue, Alert, Contain, Evacuate.

Answer: (A)

RACE is the sequence of actions to take when a fire is detected, focusing first on saving lives, then getting help, then limiting the spread, and finally attempting suppression if it’s safe. Rescue means getting people out of danger if you can do so without putting yourself at risk. Alarm is about raising the alarm to notify others and activate the fire response systems. Contain means taking steps to confine the fire and its growth—closing doors, isolating the area, and preventing draft or airflow that could feed the fire. Extinguish is about using a portable extinguisher or other available means to put the fire out if it’s small and safe to do so.

This order is why the best choice matches Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. The other options drift away from the standard sequence or swap terms (for example, using Evacuate or broad terms like Respond/Assess instead of the specific rescue and containment actions), which can lead to delays in addressing life safety, alarm activation, or fire spread control.