A safety zone should have a refuge area ____ft by _____ft per person.

A safety zone should have a refuge area ____ft by _____ft per person.

• A. 4 x 4
• B. 8 x 8
• C. 4 x 8
• D. 10 x 10

Answer: (C)

Each firefighter needs a personal refuge area large enough to shield from radiant heat and allow a bit of movement during a burnover. The standard size used for this purpose is 4 feet by 8 feet per person, which equals about 32 square feet. This dimension provides sufficient space for a person with gear to lie down or sit and remain safe without crowding other refuges in the safety zone. A 4 by 4 area is only 16 square feet and would likely be too cramped. An 8 by 8 area is 64 square feet and, while larger, isn’t the typical per-person requirement and would waste space. A 10 by 10 area is 100 square feet and far exceeds standard guidance.

Each firefighter needs a personal refuge area large enough to shield from radiant heat and allow a bit of movement during a burnover. The standard size used for this purpose is 4 feet by 8 feet per person, which equals about 32 square feet. This dimension provides sufficient space for a person with gear to lie down or sit and remain safe without crowding other refuges in the safety zone. A 4 by 4 area is only 16 square feet and would likely be too cramped. An 8 by 8 area is 64 square feet and, while larger, isn’t the typical per-person requirement and would waste space. A 10 by 10 area is 100 square feet and far exceeds standard guidance.