What steps are taken if a fire warning occurs in flight?

• A. Follow fire suppression procedures, disconnect the affected electrical circuits if required, and continue to the diversion field per SOP.
• B. Immediately land the aircraft at the nearest airport without any procedures.
• C. Shut down all systems and descend to 0 feet.
• D. Ignore the warning and continue to the planned destination.

Answer: (A)

When a fire warning occurs, the priority is to control the fire while keeping the aircraft under control. Follow the fire suppression procedures exactly as published in the flight crew operating manual. These steps are designed to isolate the fire and remove sources that could feed it, such as shutting off or deactivating the affected systems. If the procedure calls for disconnecting affected electrical circuits, do so to prevent the fire from spreading via power sources. After initiating suppression and confirming the situation, plan a diversion to the appropriate field in accordance with SOPs, choosing the nearest suitable airport with the needed services and favorable conditions. The goal is to land safely at a field where firefighting support is available, not to rush to a landing without first addressing the fire. Ignoring the warning, shutting down everything and descending to zero, or continuing to the planned destination without following the suppression and diversion procedures would significantly increase risk.