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You are here · Zone J · Procedures and logs

Emergency procedures and the records behind them

In a fire emergency, report first. Anyone who learns of a fire, explosion or other emergency reports it to the FDNY right away, and no one may order a delay (Source: Study Material §9). After the call come the elevators, medical calls, suspicious packages and spills, the briefing for the FDNY, and the log book that records it all.

Plan ref J1 concept roomsUpdated October 25, 2026

The first call, and what the coordinator must find fast

No owner or other person may give a directive, or take any action, that prevents or delays the report of a fire or other emergency to the FDNY. A durable, legible sign in the lobby of the main front entrance shows how to report. It names the nearest fire alarm box by its two cross streets, or it gives 911 and the borough’s FDNY number (Source: Study Material §9).

Four things to locate without searching

The coordinator must always know where these are on the premises (Source: Study Material §9.1):

  • The emergency preparedness plan for the shelter
  • The floor plans
  • The firemen’s service elevator keys, also called #2642 keys (six are required)
  • The list of occupants who need help during an evacuation

When the FDNY arrives, the coordinator is the person who knows the building. The Appendix A checklist shows what that covers: exits and stairways, recent alterations, the fire alarm system and central station company, the suppression system and its valves (Source: Study Material p. 80).

The borough numbers on the lobby sign

FDNY phone numbers for the lobby sign, by borough

BoroughNumber on the sign
Bronx718-999-3333
Brooklyn718-999-4444
Manhattan212-999-2222
Queens718-999-5555
Staten Island718-999-6666

As printed in Source: Study Material §9, as of October 2026. The sign may give 911 instead.

A spill in the laundry room

Two cleaning products spill and mix on the laundry room floor, and the smell is strong. Who do you call first?

  1. AYour supervisor, so they can decideOut in round 2
  2. B911, to notify the FDNYKeep
  3. CThe central station companyOut in round 1
  4. DThe building’s maintenance contractorOut in round 1
  1. Round 1 — rule out C and D.The central station receives fire alarm signals; it is not a number for spills. A contractor may clean up later, but the question is who responds now.
  2. Round 2 — rule out A.Both remaining options are people you must tell, so both sound right. The Study Material sets the order for a major spill: 911 first, then the supervisor.

B. The caller then waits for the first responders and follows their instructions (Source: Study Material §17.5).

Checkpoints for Zone J: Procedures and logs

Checkpoint round

0 of 15 checked · 0 cleared

Practice questions written for study, not taken from the test. The real F-80 is a multiple-choice test on a touch-screen computer at FDNY Headquarters.

Scan the options first and ask who each one puts in charge. Strike the ones that hand the decision to the wrong person, then let the scene settle the last two.

How the checkpoint round works

Read the options first and rule out the ones that break a rule, then pick from what is left. After you answer, the debrief explains every option and scores your strikes. Keys: 1–5 or A–E answer, Shift with a number rules that option out, the arrow keys move.

Checkpoint 1 of 15

  1. Checkpoint 01

    When the FDNY Incident Commander arrives, the coordinator must give a quick status briefing. Which information should come first?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. APast false alarms and staff names do not help firefighters right now; they need current conditions.
    2. BPlumbing drawings and kitchen supplies have nothing to do with where the fire is or who needs help.
    3. CCorrect: Responders need to know where the emergency is, who may need help getting out, and what hazards they will meet.
    4. DA list of belongings and future drill dates is paperwork; none of it helps the fire attack or a rescue.

  2. Checkpoint 02

    Once the FDNY arrives and assumes command of a fire emergency at the shelter, what is the coordinator’s primary responsibility regarding ongoing incident management?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AGoing onto the fire floor puts you in danger and pulls you away from the panel; the FDNY does not need you to check its work.
    2. BCorrect: Once the FDNY is in command, the coordinator complies with its directions and passes them to staff, so the building speaks with one voice.
    3. CStaff still have duties after the FDNY arrives, such as accounting for residents and relaying orders; dismissing them leaves gaps.
    4. DSilencing the alarm requires FDNY authorization first; overriding the panel on your own is never the coordinator’s call.

  3. Checkpoint 03

    When briefing the arriving FDNY, which information about the building must the coordinator include?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AManagement contacts can wait; they do not change how firefighters attack the fire or search the building.
    2. BDrill procedures describe practice, not the current emergency, so they do not belong in a short handoff.
    3. CA year of maintenance logs is far too much for a quick briefing; the FDNY can ask for records later.
    4. DCorrect: An impaired sprinkler, standpipe, or alarm zone changes how firefighters operate, so they must hear about it and about the fire watch in place.

  4. Checkpoint 04

    During a partial evacuation, the coordinator finds a resident with a bad leg injury in a hallway with no smoke or fire. What should the coordinator do FIRST?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AElevators are not for evacuation during a fire alarm, and rolling an injured person in an office chair risks more harm.
    2. BCorrect: An injured person should not be moved unless their location is unsafe; this hallway is smoke-free, so keep them still and get EMS to them.
    3. CCarrying someone with a serious leg injury down the stairs can worsen the injury and block the stairwell for others.
    4. DResidents are not trained to move an injured person; only trained staff give first aid, and moving them here is not needed.

  5. Checkpoint 05

    After a full evacuation, a resident frantically informs the coordinator that their life-saving daily medication was left inside their room on the second floor. The MOST appropriate action is to:

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ARe-entering a building under a fire alarm puts you at risk and leaves the assembly area without its coordinator.
    2. BCorrect: No one goes back in until the building is cleared; telling the FDNY lets responders arrange the medication or medical help safely.
    3. COverriding the alarm system to let someone back in is never allowed; the FDNY decides when the building is safe.
    4. DA fire guard escort still sends two people into a building that has not been cleared, which doubles the risk.

  6. Checkpoint 06

    As residents evacuate the building and gather at the designated assembly area during a chaotic emergency, which method is REQUIRED for the coordinator to ensure proper accountability?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AA blank sign-in sheet at the assembly area shows who arrived, not who is missing, because there is no list to check against.
    2. BAn estimate cannot confirm that a specific person is out; accountability means checking names, not counting heads roughly.
    3. CGrouping residents by room may help organize them, but without a list of names it still cannot show who is missing.
    4. DCorrect: Checking each name against a list of who should be in the building is the only way to know no one is still inside.

  7. Checkpoint 07

    The FDNY puts out a small fire and gives the all clear. The coordinator has not finished the headcount of residents who need help. What must the coordinator do?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ACorrect: Occupants come back in only after everyone is accounted for; an unfinished headcount means someone could still be missing.
    2. BLetting staff back in while the count is unfinished still skips the accountability step that comes before re-entry.
    3. CFDNY clearance covers the fire, not your headcount; re-entry before everyone is accounted for can hide a missing person.
    4. DClosing out the response before the headcount is done skips a step; the log book entry comes after everyone is accounted for.

  8. Checkpoint 08

    During an active local alarm, the fire alarm control panel simultaneously displays a “COMM TROUBLE” signal. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action for the coordinator?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ANever reset the panel during an active alarm; the condition must be verified by the FDNY before any reset.
    2. BEvacuating per the plan is right, but logging the comm failure does not make sure the FDNY knows about the alarm.
    3. CWaiting on the central station is the problem here; the trouble signal means the alarm may never reach them.
    4. DCorrect: COMM TROUBLE means the alarm may not be reaching the central station, so call 911 yourself; anyone aware of a fire must report it immediately.

  9. Checkpoint 09

    Shelter staff discover a fire that has already spread rapidly across the sleeping area, producing thick smoke. According to FDNY procedures, what is the most appropriate initial response?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ACorrect: A spreading fire with thick smoke is past the point for extinguishers, so get everyone out per the plan and call 911.
    2. BHunting for where the fire started delays the evacuation while smoke spreads; the cause can be found later.
    3. CThe panel does not need to confirm a fire people can already see; waiting wastes the minutes residents need to get out.
    4. DExtinguishers are for small, incipient fires with a clear exit behind you; a fire spreading across a room needs firefighters.

  10. Checkpoint 10

    A fire guard conducting a continuous fire watch for a sprinkler impairment discovers a major gas leak. What is the BEST sequence of immediate actions?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AA major gas leak is an emergency now; logging it and waiting leaves everyone exposed.
    2. BWalking away from the patrol to wait outside leaves residents in danger and the emergency unreported to 911.
    3. CA fire guard never repairs a gas line; the job is to protect people and report, not to fix utilities.
    4. DCorrect: Get people away from the hazard, report the emergency through 911 without delay, and record what happened once everyone is safe.

  11. Checkpoint 11

    A log book entry reads: “10/12/2023. Checked 2nd floor and basement. Started 14:00, finished round. Signed, J. Smith.” Which required detail is missing from this fire watch patrol record?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ACorrect: The entry shows a start time but no finish time, so no one can tell how long the round took or when the next one was due.
    2. BThe panel manufacturer is recorded once at the front of the log book, not in each patrol entry.
    3. CA fire officer’s badge number has nothing to do with a routine patrol; no firefighters responded.
    4. DResident counts belong to drill and evacuation records; a patrol entry records the round itself.

  12. Checkpoint 12

    The shelter’s emergency preparedness plan calls for a partial evacuation, but the arriving FDNY Incident Commander orders a full building evacuation. What MUST the coordinator do?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AStopping an evacuation the Incident Commander ordered puts people at risk, and resetting the panel is not the coordinator’s call.
    2. BThe shelter’s plan does not outrank the FDNY on scene; the coordinator must comply with the directions of emergency responders.
    3. CCorrect: The coordinator complies with the directions of emergency response personnel, makes sure staff carry them out, and records the change afterward.
    4. DAsking the shelter director for permission delays an order that must be followed now.

  13. Checkpoint 13

    A shelter’s elevators have Phase I recall and Phase II operation. How often must each elevator get a Phase I recall test and a Phase II one-floor test?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. AWeekly is more often than the rule; the Study Material sets these elevator tests at least monthly.
    2. BCorrect: both tests run at least monthly, and a written record of the result is kept on the premises.
    3. CEvery 3 months is the rhythm of FEP refresher training, not of the elevator recall tests.
    4. DA yearly test is too rare; Phase I and Phase II must be checked at least once a month.

  14. Checkpoint 14

    A shelter has the six required #2642 firemen’s service elevator keys. Where must these keys be kept?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ACorrect: the keys sit at the fire command station so arriving firefighters can use them right away.
    2. BThe machine room holds elevator equipment; FDNY needs the keys where they arrive and take command.
    3. CAn office can be locked or empty during a fire, which defeats immediate use by the Fire Department.
    4. DA guard on patrol may be floors away; the keys must stay in one known place for the Fire Department.

  15. Checkpoint 15

    A staff member receives a package and cannot verify what is inside. What should they do?

    Rule out what you can with the ✕ buttons, then choose. The debrief for every option opens here.

    1. ACarrying it means touching and moving it, which the Study Material rules out for an unverified package.
    2. BOpening the package is exactly what the procedure forbids when its contents cannot be verified.
    3. CCorrect: leave the package where it is and call 911 with its location and a call-back name and number.
    4. DMoving it to a closet still handles the package, and the first call goes to 911, not a supervisor.

A medical call, step by step

  1. Call 911

    Give the location (street, cross street, floor, room), your name and a callback number, how many victims, their main complaint or condition, and any hazards. Then follow the operator’s instructions. You do not need medical training to make this call (Source: Study Material §17.3).

  2. Alert CPR-qualified staff

    The emergency preparedness plan names them. Only trained employees give first aid. If none are on site, a responsible person stays with the victim.

  3. Put an elevator on standby

    If the shelter has elevators, hold one for the responders.

  4. Control the scene

    Keep people who are not helping away from the area.

  5. Leave the victim in place

    Do not move the victim unless the location is unsafe.

  6. Meet the ambulance

    A designated person waits at the nearest entrance and leads the responders to the victim.

Elevators, packages and the FDNY on arrival

In an actual emergency, elevators return to the designated lobby. A sign over the call button, no more than 6 feet above the floor, says not to use them in a fire unless the FDNY says otherwise. Phase I recall and a Phase II one-floor operation are each tested at least monthly, with a written record kept on the premises (Source: Study Material §17.2). The six #2642 keys stay at the fire command station for the FDNY’s immediate use (Source: Study Material §9.1).

A package whose contents cannot be verified is not touched, moved or opened. The person who has it calls 911 and gives the location, including the floor and room, and a name and number for a return call (Source: Study Material §17.4).

Once the FDNY is on scene, its directions come first. The coordinator passes them to the staff and answers the officers’ questions about the building.

The first page of the log book

What the opening page records, with sample values

Shelter addressFDNY approval date, makerCentral stationStation contact
1 Example Ave, Queens03/14/2019, maker on fileSample Monitoring Co., acct 000-000555-0100, supervisor J. Doe

Sample values, not a real shelter. Later entries cover fire watch patrols, drills, system inspections and tests, extinguisher service, staff training, flame-resistance proof, and each review or use of the plan. Log books stay on the premises for 3 years from the last entry (Source: Study Material §16). The log book page goes entry by entry, and drill entries are on the fire drills page.

Where the rule is written

Concept rooms off Zone J

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