S-190 INTRO TO WILDLAND FIRE BEHAVIOR
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
ANSWERS[2026/2027]
Point of origin - Correct Answers -The precise location where a competent ignition source came
into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
Head of a fire - Correct Answers -The side of the fire having the fastest rate of spread
Flank of a fire - Correct Answers -The part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to the
main direction of spread.
Rear of a fire - Correct Answers -Portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or down slope.
Opposite the head. Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called the heel
3 main objectives to fight a fire - Correct Answers -Anchor, Flank, Pinch
Fire perimeter - Correct Answers -Entire outer edge of a fire
Fingers of a fire - Correct Answers -Long narrow extensions of a fire projecting from the main
body
Pockets of a fire - Correct Answers -Unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by fingers or
slow burning areas
Island - Correct Answers -Area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter
Spot fire - Correct Answers -Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a fireband
,Smoldering - Correct Answers -Fire burning without flame and barely spreading
Creeping fire - Correct Answers -Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running fire - Correct Answers -Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Spotting - Correct Answers -Behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are carried by
the wind and which start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire
Torching - Correct Answers -The burning of foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees from
the bottom up
Crown fire - Correct Answers -Fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of surface fire. Sometimes classes as running or dependent to distinguish the
degree of independence from the surface fire.
Flare up - Correct Answers -Any sudden acceleration in the rate of spread or intensification.
Relatively short-duration. Junipers cause a lot of these.
Firewhirl - Correct Answers -Spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a
fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame. Can move all over and are unpredictable.
Backing fire - Correct Answers -That portion of the fire with slower rates of spread. Also called
the heel
Flaming front - Correct Answers -That zone of a moving fire where the combustion is primarily
flaming. Light fuels typically have a shallow flaming front. Heavy fuels have a deeper front.
, Anchor point - Correct Answers -An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from
which to start constructing a fireline. Used to minimize the chance of being flanked while line is
being constructed.
Control line - Correct Answers -An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and
treated fire edges used to contain a fire
Fireline - Correct Answers -The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to
mineral soil
Mop-up - Correct Answers -Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling
snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to
reduce residual smoke
Contained - Correct Answers -The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control
line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be
expected to stop the fire's spread.
Controlled - Correct Answers -The completion of control line around a fire, any spot fires, and
any interior islands to be saved. Burn out any unburned area adjacent to the fire side of the
control lines. Cool down all hot spots that are immediate threats to the control line, until the
lines can reasonably be expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions
Chain - Correct Answers -Unit of measure in land survey. 1 chain=66 feet. 80 chains=1 mile. 10
square chains=1 acre.
3 elements of the fire triangle - Correct Answers -Fuel to burn
Air to supply oxygen for the flame
Heat to start and continue the combustion process
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
ANSWERS[2026/2027]
Point of origin - Correct Answers -The precise location where a competent ignition source came
into contact with the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred.
Head of a fire - Correct Answers -The side of the fire having the fastest rate of spread
Flank of a fire - Correct Answers -The part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to the
main direction of spread.
Rear of a fire - Correct Answers -Portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or down slope.
Opposite the head. Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called the heel
3 main objectives to fight a fire - Correct Answers -Anchor, Flank, Pinch
Fire perimeter - Correct Answers -Entire outer edge of a fire
Fingers of a fire - Correct Answers -Long narrow extensions of a fire projecting from the main
body
Pockets of a fire - Correct Answers -Unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by fingers or
slow burning areas
Island - Correct Answers -Area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter
Spot fire - Correct Answers -Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a fireband
,Smoldering - Correct Answers -Fire burning without flame and barely spreading
Creeping fire - Correct Answers -Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running fire - Correct Answers -Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Spotting - Correct Answers -Behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are carried by
the wind and which start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire
Torching - Correct Answers -The burning of foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees from
the bottom up
Crown fire - Correct Answers -Fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of surface fire. Sometimes classes as running or dependent to distinguish the
degree of independence from the surface fire.
Flare up - Correct Answers -Any sudden acceleration in the rate of spread or intensification.
Relatively short-duration. Junipers cause a lot of these.
Firewhirl - Correct Answers -Spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a
fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame. Can move all over and are unpredictable.
Backing fire - Correct Answers -That portion of the fire with slower rates of spread. Also called
the heel
Flaming front - Correct Answers -That zone of a moving fire where the combustion is primarily
flaming. Light fuels typically have a shallow flaming front. Heavy fuels have a deeper front.
, Anchor point - Correct Answers -An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from
which to start constructing a fireline. Used to minimize the chance of being flanked while line is
being constructed.
Control line - Correct Answers -An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and
treated fire edges used to contain a fire
Fireline - Correct Answers -The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to
mineral soil
Mop-up - Correct Answers -Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling
snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to
reduce residual smoke
Contained - Correct Answers -The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control
line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be
expected to stop the fire's spread.
Controlled - Correct Answers -The completion of control line around a fire, any spot fires, and
any interior islands to be saved. Burn out any unburned area adjacent to the fire side of the
control lines. Cool down all hot spots that are immediate threats to the control line, until the
lines can reasonably be expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions
Chain - Correct Answers -Unit of measure in land survey. 1 chain=66 feet. 80 chains=1 mile. 10
square chains=1 acre.
3 elements of the fire triangle - Correct Answers -Fuel to burn
Air to supply oxygen for the flame
Heat to start and continue the combustion process
