Which of the following is a defensive technique?

• A. Deluge
• B. Absorption
• C. Evacuation
• D. Isolation

Answer: (B)

In firefighting, defensive techniques are actions taken from outside the structure to control the fire, protect exposures, and keep firefighters safe.

Absorption refers to cooling by soaking up heat energy, primarily with water. When water absorbs heat, it lowers the temperature of fuels and the surrounding gases, reducing the heat release and slowing or stopping the fire’s growth. This exterior cooling is a hallmark of a defensive approach: you’re operating from outside to keep the situation under control and prevent the fire from advancing or re-igniting, rather than forcing an interior attack.

Deluge can be part of an exterior effort to knock down flames but isn’t inherently the defining defensive concept. Evacuation is a life-safety action, not a firefighting technique used to control the fire itself. Isolation aims to limit fire spread by separating compartments or shutting ventilation, which is defensible, but the term absorption specifically emphasizes cooling and heat absorption, aligning best with the defensive objective.