After a fire is extinguished, which checks are performed?

• A. Re-check seating and resume service
• B. Reset fire alarm and inform passengers to return to seats
• C. Confirm no hotspots, ventilate to clear smoke, and report the incident according to SOP
• D. Evacuate all passengers immediately

Answer: (C)

After extinguishing a fire, the priority is safety and proper follow-up. First, confirm there are no hotspots. Even when flames are out, embers can remain hidden in seats, cushions, carpets, or cabin furnishings and can rekindle if not found and extinguished. A thorough check helps prevent a rekindle and ensures the area is truly safe to continue operations.

Next, ventilate to clear the smoke. Smoke obstructs visibility, irritates eyes and airways, and can mask hotspots. Ventilation improves air quality and allows crew to perform further checks more safely and effectively, helping passengers feel safer and making it easier to move around the cabin if needed.

Finally, report the incident according to SOP. Documenting what happened, coordinating with the cockpit, maintenance, and ground staff, and following the company's procedures ensures proper tracing, investigation, and any required regulatory reporting or corrective actions.

Why the other options aren’t the right sequence: re-checking seating and resuming service too soon can put passengers at risk if heat or smoke remains. Resetting the fire alarm and telling passengers to return to seats also implies resuming normal seating and service before it’s safe. Evacuation is an action reserved for active danger; once the fire is out, the focus shifts to safety checks, ventilation, and formal reporting rather than immediate evacuation.