If a low-water condition occurs, the operator should first ______.

In the event of a low-water condition, the immediate priority for the operator is to secure the burners. This action is crucial because operating the boiler with insufficient water can lead to overheating and damage to the boiler components, potentially resulting in a catastrophic failure. Securing the burners halts the combustion process and prevents further heat from being introduced into the boiler, which is essential for safety in this critical situation.

Once the burners have been secured, the operator can then proceed to take other necessary actions, such as checking the water level gauge to assess the situation, increasing the feedwater flow if appropriate, and notifying a supervisor to ensure that further steps can be taken to address the issue. However, the immediate and most important step is to protect the boiler from damage by stopping the combustion process.