After knocking down a dumpster fire, what must firefighters do to ensure all embers are extinguished?

Pulling apart the debris for final extinguishment is essential after knocking down a dumpster fire because it allows firefighters to ensure that all burning materials are fully extinguished. When a fire occurs in a contained environment like a dumpster, the heat can cause smoldering embers or hot spots to remain hidden within the debris. By physically separating the materials, firefighters can expose these potential hot spots, ensuring they are thoroughly cooled and no risk of re-ignition remains. This thorough approach minimizes the chance of flare-ups and guarantees a more complete extinguishment.

While other actions like cooling down the area or covering it with foam might seem beneficial, they do not guarantee the comprehensive extinguishment of all embers as effectively as physically checking the debris. Checking for gas leaks, although important in certain scenarios, does not directly relate to the residual heat or embers left from the fire in this specific case.