What percentage of the determined fire flow should be kept in reserve to handle exposure or unforeseen situations?

• A. 50%
• B. 25%
• C. 75%
• D. 10%

Answer: (A)

Having a safety reserve for the planned fire flow is essential in live-fire training. This buffer lets you handle exposure or unforeseen changes without losing attack effectiveness. The best practice is to keep half of the determined fire flow in reserve. So, if the calculated flow is, say, 300 gpm, you should have an additional 150 gpm available as a buffer for exposures or unexpected evolutions. This 50% reserve strikes a balance between providing a meaningful safety margin and keeping the operation practical within training constraints. Other options would either under- or over-buffer the operation, reducing safety or practicality.