Which of the following fires are classified as Secondary Fires?

• A. Grassland and refuse fires unless casualties or rescues involved
• B. Fires in buildings and vehicles not derelict
• C. Indoor office fires
• D. Any fire attended by five or more appliances

Answer: (A)

Secondary fires are outdoor fires outside of buildings, such as grassland or refuse fires, which typically don’t involve occupants. The key point is they’re outside structures and usually carry a different risk profile from building fires. The exception is when there are casualties or rescue operations involved; once people are affected or require rescue, the incident is treated as a primary fire because life safety becomes the priority. That’s why the option describing grassland and refuse fires, with the caveat about casualties or rescues, is the best fit. The other options describe fires inside buildings or vehicles or relate to how many appliances attend—these are about location or response scale, not the fire type.