When responding to a fire, what is the first action you should take?

The correct action to take when responding to a fire is to ensure that everyone has left or is in the process of leaving the building. The safety of individuals in the vicinity of a fire is the top priority in any emergency situation. By confirming that all personnel are safely evacuated, you minimize the risk of injury or fatality.

Once you have confirmed that everyone is clear, you can then move on to other critical actions, such as notifying emergency services and considering other measures to control the situation, like confining or extinguishing the fire if it is safe to do so. Ensuring people's safety should always come first, as fires can spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.

The other actions, while important, should take place after confirming that all individuals are safe. Calling the fire department is vital but can only be effective if you first ensure safety. Confined actions, while useful once safety is prioritized, should not occur before confirming evacuation. Similarly, while locating a fire extinguisher can be a part of response measures, it should not occur at the expense of personal safety.