If heat is detected when feeling the door with the back of the hand before entering, what should you do?

If heat is detected when feeling the door with the back of the hand before entering, what should you do?

• A. Enter quickly to check.
• B. Push door open with shoulder.
• C. Ignore heat and enter.
• D. If heat is detected, do not enter.

Answer: (D)

Feeling heat on a closed door is a critical safety cue that interior conditions are dangerous. A hot door indicates that flames or extreme heat are very close, and opening the door could introduce fresh air that feeds the fire, leading to a rapid and deadly surge of heat, flames, or a flashover. The safest course is to stay outside and reassess from a safer position, calling for ventilation or additional resources as needed, and only attempt entry when conditions are controlled or clearly safer. The other actions would put you at immediate risk: entering quickly would subject you to extreme heat and potential burns; pushing the door with your shoulder could breach the door and trigger a sudden fire surge; ignoring the heat means you may miss signs of imminent danger and expose yourself to grave harm.

Feeling heat on a closed door is a critical safety cue that interior conditions are dangerous. A hot door indicates that flames or extreme heat are very close, and opening the door could introduce fresh air that feeds the fire, leading to a rapid and deadly surge of heat, flames, or a flashover. The safest course is to stay outside and reassess from a safer position, calling for ventilation or additional resources as needed, and only attempt entry when conditions are controlled or clearly safer.

The other actions would put you at immediate risk: entering quickly would subject you to extreme heat and potential burns; pushing the door with your shoulder could breach the door and trigger a sudden fire surge; ignoring the heat means you may miss signs of imminent danger and expose yourself to grave harm.