What is the primary function of an auxiliary alarm in a fire protection system?

The primary function of an auxiliary alarm in a fire protection system is to provide alerts to occupants and emergency services. This is crucial for ensuring safety during a fire emergency, as it not only notifies those within a building of the danger, prompting evacuation and response procedures, but also signals to emergency responders that assistance is required.

Auxiliary alarms typically supplement the main fire alarm system, enhancing its effectiveness by ensuring that alerts reach all areas of a facility or even external monitoring systems. By effectively communicating the presence of a fire, these alarms help to minimize risks to life and property.

The other options focus on tasks that are not directly related to the primary role of an auxiliary alarm. For instance, extinguishing fires is the responsibility of fire suppression systems rather than alarms, while enhancing exterior lighting and monitoring fire department response time do not pertain directly to alerting individuals in a building or summoning help in the event of a fire. Thus, an auxiliary alarm's main purpose of alerting occupants and coordinating emergency services stands out as the most relevant function.