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This comprehensive guide covers key factors influencing wildland fire behavior and essential fire suppression techniques. It explores fire behavior, weather, fuels, suppression strategies, and safety considerations, equipping firefighters and land managers with the knowledge to understand and manage wildfires effectively.
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What is the purpose of an after action review? - Correct Answer-To learn from the experience of this particular fire If you do not know what the fire is doing and you can't determine this information by personal observation: - Correct Answer-send someone to scout out to get it. What is a characteristic of good safety zones? - Correct Answer-They should not be downwind from the fire. Studies have shown that wildland firefighters have been exposed to the most toxic smoke during which activities? - Correct Answer-Mop-up operations What are heat cramps? - Correct Answer-A condition that should be remedied with hydration and getting out of the sun What is the prime factor in controlling fatigue during wildland fires? - Correct Answer-Try to average one hour of sleep for every two hours worked. How should a lookout be chosen? - Correct Answer-Lookouts need to be able to recognize and anticipate dangerous situations. Which of the following represents Operational Control within the Ten Standard Firefighting Orders? - Correct Answer-Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood. How is tactical weather information used in wildland fire operations? - Correct Answer- Information is recorded at regular intervals to enable you to detect changes in fire behavior. One of the situations that shout "Watch Out!" is when safety zones and escape routes are: - Correct Answer-not identified. What is the best way to avoid hyperthermia while fighting wildland fires? - Correct Answer-Ensure you are properly hydrated What is a characteristic of fire retardant dropped from aircraft? - Correct Answer-It is slippery. When should a fire shelter be deployed? - Correct Answer-If there is doubt that you can escape the encroaching fire
What is true of SCBA and respirators used in wildland firefighting? - Correct Answer- Both SCBAs and respirators may be used during wildland operations. Preconceived opinions, distractions, and filtering information are considered: - Correct Answer-barriers to good listening. What is a characteristic required of an on-site lookout? - Correct Answer-Must be knowledgeable in fire behavior to know what to look Too much exposure to carbon monoxide will cause: - Correct Answer-headaches, fatigue, and drowsiness. Which of the following is true of light fuels? - Correct Answer-Fire intensity can change more quickly in light fuels than in heavy fuels. What is a Situation that Shouts "Watch Out!"? - Correct Answer-There is no communications link with crew members or supervisor. What are the four groupings within the Ten Standard Firefighting Orders? - Correct Answer-Fire Behavior, Safety, Operational Control, Firefighting In what type of areas is thermal lifting most prevalent? - Correct Answer-Flat terrain Winds shift rapidly to the west and then northwest as the: - Correct Answer-cold front passes. You should be concerned if: - Correct Answer-dew point temperature steadily decreases. Foehn or gravity winds are winds produced by: - Correct Answer-high pressure systems that push warm dry wind down elevations such as mountain ranges. A subsidence inversion layer is a slow process that only occurs when the high-pressure system: - Correct Answer-is stationary for several days, usually during summer and fall months. The greatest amount of heat is lost at night when: - Correct Answer-there is no cloud cover and air is relatively dry. What weather phenomenon is associated with the cumulus stage of a developing thunderstorm? - Correct Answer-Strong indrafts Unstable air can intensify fire behavior by: - Correct Answer-increasing the chance of spot fires.
How does elevation have an effect upon fire behavior? - Correct Answer-It can affect the position of warm/cool air masses in thermal belts. As a living fuel, evergreen plants: - Correct Answer-do not annually shed all their leaves but they do shed some. What level of fuel moisture is considered to be extreme burning conditions? - Correct Answer-1,000 hour fuels at 13 percent or below What are ladder fuels? - Correct Answer-Fuels that allow a surface fire to climb or move into the crowns of trees Which of the following actions breaks the fire triangle by removing fuel? - Correct Answer-Backfire or burning operations How much fuel load can be found in an average acre of grassy fuels? - Correct Answer- 1 to 5 tons Which type of heat transfer spreads fire as superheated smoke and gases preheat fuels, cause spot fires, and move fire into the crowns of trees? - Correct Answer- Convection What provides the conditions for the chimney effect to occur? - Correct Answer-Chutes, saddles, and box canyons The slope on which a fire is burning is a major factor in the fire's: - Correct Answer-rate of spread. Which of the following accurately describes how easily grass will burn? - Correct Answer-Generally, more than one third of the grass has to be dead and dry before grass will carry fire. How does the tightness of an aerial fuel canopy play a role in how fires burn? - Correct Answer-A tight canopy of aerial fuel keeps the intensity of the fire lower on the surface. The different times of year indirectly influence fuel moisture in that: - Correct Answer-the sun is at different angles in relation to the earth's surface. How will fuel that is considered very compact behave? - Correct Answer-Fire will have slower rate of spread. What is a general guideline you can use to determine how fuel temperature will affect fire behavior? - Correct Answer-When exposed to direct sunlight, ground fuels will usually have a higher temperature than those above the ground.
How do smaller and larger pieces of fuel affect fire behavior? - Correct Answer-The burning period for smaller fuels is shorter than larger fuels. Chimneys and canyons can be deadly to firefighters mostly because they: - Correct Answer-funnel wind that preheats fuel and feeds the fire. Whenever you have a plume-driven fire: - Correct Answer-downdrafts should be a major concern. What is a characteristic of wind-driven fires? - Correct Answer-You usually have an idea what direction it will burn in. How do foehn or gravity winds affect fire behavior? - Correct Answer-They push heated and dry air over mountain ranges. Live fuel moisture is a factor affecting the possibility of crown fires and is controlled by: - Correct Answer-the stage of growth, which is related to the time of year. What is a characteristic of short-range spotting? - Correct Answer-It is spotting that is quickly overrun by the main front of a fire. When does area ignition occur? - Correct Answer-Spot fires begin to draw each other closer, connecting their convective actions, which may result in the area exploding in fire. "Creeping" is understood to mean fire that is: - Correct Answer-burning with low flame and spreading slowly. What makes fuels such as chamise, jack pine, and palmetto/gallberry more susceptible to crown fires? - Correct Answer-They contain volatile oils. What terrain indicator causes a channeling effect that can contribute to rapid rates of spread? - Correct Answer-Saddles What is a good indicator that 1,000 hour fuels will burn? - Correct Answer-Fuel moisture is 20% or less. What is a characteristic of a passive crown fire? - Correct Answer-It is entirely at the mercy of a surface fire and the availability of ladder fuels. What is indicated by smoldering fires that begin to pick up? - Correct Answer-Changing weather factors What factor will accurately determine the probability of spotting? - Correct Answer- Firebrands must land on receptive fuels, such as litter, duff, and rotten wood, in order for them to ignite.
What will necessitate a wider control line? - Correct Answer-Fuel with a high oil content As a general rule, the fireline should be at least _______ as wide as the predominant fuel is tall. - Correct Answer-1.5 times Why should charred fuels be moved inside the fireline? - Correct Answer-Charred fuels may still be hot. When a fireline is to be built below a fire burning on a slope, the width of the line is not dictated by the slope, but rather by: - Correct Answer-the need for trenching. Which part of the fire usually spreads with the greatest speed? - Correct Answer-Head of the fire What can hinder and limit available common fireline construction methods? - Correct Answer-The area has been designated wilderness or a historically sensitive area How should a fireline be constructed in an area saturated with spot fires or fingers? - Correct Answer-Construct your line around them and burn-out. What federal act is specific to archaeological resources such as pottery, weapons, and tools, and covers federal and/or tribal lands? - Correct Answer-Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 What is a guideline for constructing a fireline? - Correct Answer-You should avoid creating sharp turns in your line. What is a general guideline for creating a fireline? - Correct Answer-Be sure to look up and cut fuels that are near or overhanging your fireline. To make construction, line holding, and mop-up easier, what type of fuels should you build your fireline in? - Correct Answer-Lighter fuels What part of the fire is sometimes referred to as the "heel" of the fire? - Correct Answer- Rear of the fire What is "cold trailing" in wildland firefighting? - Correct Answer-Building fireline along the edge of a fire that has gone out or is just smoldering What priority usually comes last? - Correct Answer-Make sure that all suppression actions contribute to final control of the fire. What would be considered an offensive action in wildland firefighting? - Correct Answer- Hand crews building a fireline
How should you size-up the size of the fire? - Correct Answer-Be conservative in your estimates. What type of direct attack has numerous anchor points and involves attacking the fire's perimeter at several places at one time? - Correct Answer-Envelopment Which statement about parallel attack is accurate? - Correct Answer-The line is immediately burned-out after construction; you carry the fire with you as you go. What is an advantage of the parallel attack method? - Correct Answer-You can cut fireline across pockets and fingers. What are some questions to ask for initial size up regarding the fire behavior and rate of spread? - Correct Answer-Is the fire spotting, crowning, or just smoldering? Which type of direct attack involves a lead engine taking the heat out of the fire and a second engine following behind picking up hotspots and securing the line? - Correct Answer-Tandem What types of fuels will spot fire the most quickly and easily? - Correct Answer-Rotten wood on the ground or in logs Why is it important to size-up whose land is threatened? - Correct Answer-Large landowners may be able to provide equipment to help fight the fire. During mop-up, snags should be felled: - Correct Answer-by a professional faller if there is fire inside them. What is a consideration when using hotspotting as a tactic? - Correct Answer-Only the most experienced personnel should be used for this type of work. What is always the first incident priority? - Correct Answer-Life safety What is required for the mop-up method of chunking and piling? - Correct Answer-A safe area well away from unburned fuels What is an advantage of engaging in a direct attack? - Correct Answer-Eliminates the uncertain elements of burning-out or backfiring What would be considered an extreme rate of fire spread? - Correct Answer-The head moving over 1,800 feet per hour The best type of map for wildland firefighting is a 7.5-minute map. - Correct Answer- topographic
Which of the following statements about using foam and gels for structure protection is accurate? - Correct Answer-If you have to vacate the area after foaming, come back and check (if safe) after the fire front has passed. What term describes a situation in which structures abut an island of wildland fuels with clear demarcation between the structures and the wildland fuels along roads or back fences? - Correct Answer-Occluded condition What are some actions you should take to prepare a structure's interior when providing structure protection? - Correct Answer-Turn off fans, coolers, and air conditioners. What is consideration when firing-out in order to protect a structure? - Correct Answer- Do it early enough so that your fire can widen your control line in time to do some good. What term describes an intermix condition of a wildland/urban area? - Correct Answer-A condition where structures are scattered throughout a wildland area, normally not in an urban community As the fire moves near the structure you are protecting, heat will build up, the duration of which is controlled by the: - Correct Answer-fuels that are burning. Which special tactic for protecting structures is most effective in urban neighborhoods where the fire fuel is predominately structures and is intended to prevent house-to- house ignition? - Correct Answer-Anchor and Hold The two basic reasons to evacuate are, 1) to move residents out of the harms way, 2) to: - Correct Answer-clear the area so that firefighting personal can move about more freely The decisions made regarding a structure's ability to be protected based on sorting and prioritizing is called: - Correct Answer-structure triage. Firing devices should be: - Correct Answer-directed only by very experienced firefighters acting under orders from appropriate command levels. What is considered the minimum safe distance between personnel when working with hand tools on the fireline? - Correct Answer-10 feet What is a guideline for using a drip torch? - Correct Answer-Carry the torch on the downhill side to prevent personal burns. What is a rule for using a crosscut saw? - Correct Answer-The saw is pulled, not pushed. All axes should be: - Correct Answer-held with a firm, flexible grip on the handle.
What is a the proper way to use a fusee? - Correct Answer-A lit fusee that is no longer needed should be extinguished by sticking the tip in loose dirt. Which statement about the brush hook is accurate? - Correct Answer-It is effective for cutting small diameter wood material. What is the purpose of the wedge when operating a chain saw? - Correct Answer-To keep saw kerfs open while cutting Any tool that cannot be repaired or is unsafe to use should be: - Correct Answer- removed from service and flagged. How should wooden handles be cared for? - Correct Answer-Use metal wedges to tighten tool handles on heads. A Pulaski tool: - Correct Answer-is a combination cutting/grubbing tool. What is considered the correct method for using a swatter? - Correct Answer-Dragging it directly on the fire's edge On a grass fire, a firefighter with a manual backpack pump should direct the stream of water: - Correct Answer-parallel to the fire's edge in a sweeping motion. Using a gunny sack works best when: - Correct Answer-firefighting in short grass with short flame lengths. What is a variation of the McLeod tool? - Correct Answer-Barron or Thau Claw What is the intended use of the McLeod tool? - Correct Answer-Scraping and raking Which statement about manual backpack pumps is true? - Correct Answer-A plugged vent can collapse the tank of a manual backpack pump. Carry each tool at its ________ to improve control and reduce fatigue - Correct Answer- balance point What are the most efficient but dangerous tools used to fell trees? - Correct Answer- Chainsaws How is the the cutting edge of a the U-bolt hoe sharpened? - Correct Answer-Filing the bevel edge at a 45 degree angle, sloping away from the handle