After extinguishing, what is the recommended way to ensure no hotspot remains?

• A. Leave the area immediately without further checks.
• B. Ventilate only and then leave.
• C. Visually inspect for heat or smoke and use detection equipment if available.
• D. Ignore hotspots and report later.

Answer: (C)

After extinguishing, the priority is to confirm there are no remaining hotspots. Visually check for heat or smoke and, if available, use detection equipment such as thermal imaging to scan for hidden heat sources. This is crucial because hotspots can linger in concealed areas, debris, or insulation and rekindle the fire if not found and cooled. Ventilating alone won’t reveal these hidden heat pockets, and leaving the area or ignoring hotspots creates a real risk of reignition. Using available detection tools helps ensure the area is truly safe before you re-enter or conclude the operation.