What should a Fire Guard do first upon discovering a fire?

The first step a Fire Guard should take upon discovering a fire is to ensure their own safety and assess the situation before attempting to extinguish the fire. If it is small and manageable, and the Fire Guard is trained and equipped to handle it, they may take action to extinguish it. However, it is essential to recognize that the priority should always be safety.

If the fire is large or uncontrollable, the Fire Guard's immediate focus should shift to ensuring everyone’s safety by evacuating the premises. Despite the belief that attempting to extinguish the fire is the first action, the most critical aspect is to accurately assess the situation and respond accordingly to ensure no harm comes to themselves or others present.

In practical scenarios, best practices indicate that notifying the appropriate authorities, such as calling 911 or alerting the building manager, is crucial since they have the resources to deal with larger fires effectively. Therefore, while the action of attempting to extinguish the fire might seem appropriate in certain contexts, ensuring safety and notifying the proper emergency services is of primary importance in fire emergencies.