What should be the next step for a security guard who suspects a fire in a building?

When a security guard suspects a fire in a building, calling emergency services immediately is paramount. This step ensures that professional firefighting assistance is on the way as quickly as possible, which is crucial for safety and damage control. By alerting the authorities right away, the guard is helping to protect not only themselves but also other occupants in the building.

In addition to calling emergency services, it's important for the security guard to remain calm and follow established protocols for fire emergencies. While evacuating the building and investigating may seem like logical actions, they should only be undertaken after the appropriate emergency services have been notified. This immediate action provides the assurance that help is en route, which is critical in an emergency situation.

Timeliness in response is crucial in fire emergencies, and the priority should always be to bring in trained professionals as quickly as possible, thus making it imperative that the guard first contacts emergency services.