What is the purpose of a fire shield?

A fire shield is designed to protect bystanders and nearby areas from the potential hazards associated with sparks, flames, and other combustion-related risks. It acts as a barrier that prevents the spread of sparks and hot particles that could cause injury or ignite nearby flammable materials. This protective measure is crucial in environments where welding, cutting, or other activities that generate heat and sparks are performed, ensuring safety for personnel and minimizing fire risks.

In the context of the other options, while extinguishing fires (like the first choice) is important for fire safety, that function is typically served by fire extinguishers or suppression systems, not shields. The emergency exit function (the third choice) is related to evacuation safety rather than active fire protection. Finally, while preventing smoke from spreading is important in fire management, smoke containment is generally the function of specialized smoke barriers or ventilation systems rather than a fire shield. Thus, the primary purpose of a fire shield aligns well with its role in protecting individuals from sparks.