In the event of an external fire, which doors should be opened?

Opening the doors that are upwind and toward you during an external fire is crucial for effective safety management and fire response. By doing so, you allow fresh air to enter the space, which helps in directing smoke and heat away from personnel. This approach minimizes the risk of toxic smoke inhalation and maintains safer visibility, enabling better situational awareness for those involved in firefighting efforts or evacuation.

Opening doors that are downwind or away from you can potentially exacerbate the fire situation by propagating flames and smoke toward personnel. Conversely, opening all doors simultaneously can create a draft that might intensify the fire, leading to uncontrollable flames and hazardous conditions. Limiting door openings to the main engine doors solely may not provide adequate ventilation or prevent smoke from engulfing the area.

Thus, targeting doors that are strategically placed upwind and positioned toward the personnel enhances safety and controls the environment during a fire incident.