Fire Apparatus Driver-Operator Exam
Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Activity area - Answer: The area of the incident scene or may move as re where the work activity takes
place; it may be stationa
Actuator - Answer: A device that converts the fluid pressure in a hydraulic rescue tool system into a
mechanical force.
Adapter - Answer: Any device that allows fire hose couplings to be safely interconnected with couplings
of different sizes, threads, or mating surfaces, or that allows fire hose couplings to be safely connected
to other appliances.
Additive - Answer: A liquid such as foam concentrates, emulsifiers, and hazardous vapor suppression
liquids and foaming agents intended to be added to the water.
Adjustable-gallonage fog nozzle - Answer: A nozzle that allows the operator to select a desired flow from
several settings.
Advance warning area - Answer: The section of highway where drivers are informed about an upcoming
situation ahead.
Aeration - Answer: The process of introducing air into the foam solution, which expands and finishes the
foam.
Aerial device - Answer: An aerial ladder, elevating platform, aerial ladder platform, or water tower that is
designed to position personnel, handle materials, provide continuous egress, or discharge water.
Aerial fie apparatus - Answer: A vehicle equipped with and aerial ladder, elevating platform, or water
tower that is designed and equipped to support firefighting and rescue operations by positioning
,personnel, handling materials, providing continuous egress, or discharging water at positions elevated
from the ground
Aerial ladder - Answer: A self-supporting, turntable-mounted, power-operated ladder of two or more
sections permanently attached to a self-propelled automotive fire apparatus and designed to provide a
continuous egress route from an elevated position to the ground.
Aerial ladder inspection - Answer: With the ladder in bedded position, the aerial is tested by raising it to
60 degrees, rotating it 90 degrees to the left or right, and then fully extending it within 60 seconds while
utilizing fast idle.
Air pressure gauges - Answer: Gauges that identify the air pressure stored in the tanks or reservoirs of
an apparatus equipped with the pneumatic braking system.
Aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle (ARFF) - Answer: A vehicle intended to carry rescue and
firefighting equipment for rescuing occupants and combating fires in aircraft at, or in the vicinity of, an
airport.
Ambient air temperature - Answer: The temperature of the surrounding medium. It typically refers to
the temperature of the air in which a structure is situated or a device operates.
Ambulance - Answer: A vehicle designed, equipped, and operated for the treatment and transport of ill
and injured persons.
Angle of approach - Answer: The smallest angle made between the road surface and a line drawn from
the front point of ground contact of the front tire to any projection of the apparatus in front of the front
axle. An angle of at least 8 degrees will be maintained on a fully loaded apparatus.
Angle of departure - Answer: The smallest angle made between the road surface and a line drawn from
the rear point of ground contact of the rear tire to any projection of the apparatus behind the rear axle.
Anti-siphon hole - Answer: A very small hole in the fitting on top of the primer oil reservoir or in the top
of the loop on the lubrication line leading to the priming pump.
,Apparatus inspection form - Answer: A documentation the identifies who performed the inspection and
when the fire apparatus inspection was performed, identifies any equipment that is damaged and/or
repaired, and details other preventive maintenance procedures performed on the apparatus.
Apparatus placement - Answer: In regard to truck company operations, apparatus placement refers to
how and where an apparatus is placed at the scene. Virtually all fire incidents require and utilize the
support from apparatus in some way. The success of most foreground operations often depends,
directly or indirectly, on the effective placement of fire apparatus.
Aqueous - Answer: Pertaining to, related to, similar to, or dissolved in water.
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) - Answer: A concentrated aqueous solution of fluorinated
surfactant(s) and foam stabilizers that is capable of producing and aqueous fluorocarbon film on the
surface of hydrocarbon fuels to suppress vaporization.
Around-the-pump proportioning (AP) system - Answer: A fire apparatus-mounted foam system that
diverts a portion of the water pump's output from the discharge side of the pump and sends it through
an educator to discharge foam.
Articulated booms - Answer: An aerial device consisting of two or more folding boom sections whose
extension and retraction modes are accomplished by adjusting the angle of the knuckle joints.
Articulating platform - Answer: An aerial device consisting of two or more booms connected at
midsection by hinge or swivel and equipped with an area where two to four fire fighters can stand and
perform work.
Assessment center - Answer: A series of simulation exercises for a promotional examination.
Atmospheric pressure - Answer: Pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere; equal to 14.7 (101
kPa) psi at sea level.
Attack hose (attack line) - Answer: Hose designed to be used by trained fire fighters and fire brigade
members to combat fires beyond the incipient stage.
, Attack pumper - Answer: An engine from which attack lines have been pulled>
Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) - Answer: An organization, office, or individual responsible for
enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, and
installation, or a procedure.
Automatic intake pressure relief device - Answer: A device installed on the supply side of a valve to
bleed off excessive pressure coming into the valve.
Automatic load management system - Answer: A system designed to protect the electrical system from
needless damage while maintaining the operation of essential devices.
Automatic-adjusting fog nozzle - Answer: A nozzle that can deliver a wide range of water stream flows. It
operates by means of an internal spring-loaded piston.
Auxilary appliance - Answer: A standpipe and/or sprinkler system.
Backlash - Answer: In the case of the aerial device, the motion that occurs when rotating the aerial, and
when the bull gear and turntable bearing have play in the gear spacing. The aerial will rock slightly back
and forth if there is excessive end-play backlash.
Balanced0-pressure system - Answer: `A fire apparatus-mounted foam system that uses a diaphragm-
type pressure control valve to sense and balance the pressures in the foam concentrate and water lines
to the proportioner.
Ball valve - Answer: A type of valve used on nozzles, gated wyes, and engine discharge gates. It consists
of a ball with a hole in the middle of the ball.
Bankshot (bankdown) method - Answer: A method that applies the foam stream onto a nearby object,
such as a wall, instead of directly at the fire.
Batch mixing - Answer: Pouring foam concentrate directly into the fire apparatus water tank, thereby
mixing a large amount of foam at one time.
Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Activity area - Answer: The area of the incident scene or may move as re where the work activity takes
place; it may be stationa
Actuator - Answer: A device that converts the fluid pressure in a hydraulic rescue tool system into a
mechanical force.
Adapter - Answer: Any device that allows fire hose couplings to be safely interconnected with couplings
of different sizes, threads, or mating surfaces, or that allows fire hose couplings to be safely connected
to other appliances.
Additive - Answer: A liquid such as foam concentrates, emulsifiers, and hazardous vapor suppression
liquids and foaming agents intended to be added to the water.
Adjustable-gallonage fog nozzle - Answer: A nozzle that allows the operator to select a desired flow from
several settings.
Advance warning area - Answer: The section of highway where drivers are informed about an upcoming
situation ahead.
Aeration - Answer: The process of introducing air into the foam solution, which expands and finishes the
foam.
Aerial device - Answer: An aerial ladder, elevating platform, aerial ladder platform, or water tower that is
designed to position personnel, handle materials, provide continuous egress, or discharge water.
Aerial fie apparatus - Answer: A vehicle equipped with and aerial ladder, elevating platform, or water
tower that is designed and equipped to support firefighting and rescue operations by positioning
,personnel, handling materials, providing continuous egress, or discharging water at positions elevated
from the ground
Aerial ladder - Answer: A self-supporting, turntable-mounted, power-operated ladder of two or more
sections permanently attached to a self-propelled automotive fire apparatus and designed to provide a
continuous egress route from an elevated position to the ground.
Aerial ladder inspection - Answer: With the ladder in bedded position, the aerial is tested by raising it to
60 degrees, rotating it 90 degrees to the left or right, and then fully extending it within 60 seconds while
utilizing fast idle.
Air pressure gauges - Answer: Gauges that identify the air pressure stored in the tanks or reservoirs of
an apparatus equipped with the pneumatic braking system.
Aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle (ARFF) - Answer: A vehicle intended to carry rescue and
firefighting equipment for rescuing occupants and combating fires in aircraft at, or in the vicinity of, an
airport.
Ambient air temperature - Answer: The temperature of the surrounding medium. It typically refers to
the temperature of the air in which a structure is situated or a device operates.
Ambulance - Answer: A vehicle designed, equipped, and operated for the treatment and transport of ill
and injured persons.
Angle of approach - Answer: The smallest angle made between the road surface and a line drawn from
the front point of ground contact of the front tire to any projection of the apparatus in front of the front
axle. An angle of at least 8 degrees will be maintained on a fully loaded apparatus.
Angle of departure - Answer: The smallest angle made between the road surface and a line drawn from
the rear point of ground contact of the rear tire to any projection of the apparatus behind the rear axle.
Anti-siphon hole - Answer: A very small hole in the fitting on top of the primer oil reservoir or in the top
of the loop on the lubrication line leading to the priming pump.
,Apparatus inspection form - Answer: A documentation the identifies who performed the inspection and
when the fire apparatus inspection was performed, identifies any equipment that is damaged and/or
repaired, and details other preventive maintenance procedures performed on the apparatus.
Apparatus placement - Answer: In regard to truck company operations, apparatus placement refers to
how and where an apparatus is placed at the scene. Virtually all fire incidents require and utilize the
support from apparatus in some way. The success of most foreground operations often depends,
directly or indirectly, on the effective placement of fire apparatus.
Aqueous - Answer: Pertaining to, related to, similar to, or dissolved in water.
Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) - Answer: A concentrated aqueous solution of fluorinated
surfactant(s) and foam stabilizers that is capable of producing and aqueous fluorocarbon film on the
surface of hydrocarbon fuels to suppress vaporization.
Around-the-pump proportioning (AP) system - Answer: A fire apparatus-mounted foam system that
diverts a portion of the water pump's output from the discharge side of the pump and sends it through
an educator to discharge foam.
Articulated booms - Answer: An aerial device consisting of two or more folding boom sections whose
extension and retraction modes are accomplished by adjusting the angle of the knuckle joints.
Articulating platform - Answer: An aerial device consisting of two or more booms connected at
midsection by hinge or swivel and equipped with an area where two to four fire fighters can stand and
perform work.
Assessment center - Answer: A series of simulation exercises for a promotional examination.
Atmospheric pressure - Answer: Pressure caused by the weight of the atmosphere; equal to 14.7 (101
kPa) psi at sea level.
Attack hose (attack line) - Answer: Hose designed to be used by trained fire fighters and fire brigade
members to combat fires beyond the incipient stage.
, Attack pumper - Answer: An engine from which attack lines have been pulled>
Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) - Answer: An organization, office, or individual responsible for
enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, and
installation, or a procedure.
Automatic intake pressure relief device - Answer: A device installed on the supply side of a valve to
bleed off excessive pressure coming into the valve.
Automatic load management system - Answer: A system designed to protect the electrical system from
needless damage while maintaining the operation of essential devices.
Automatic-adjusting fog nozzle - Answer: A nozzle that can deliver a wide range of water stream flows. It
operates by means of an internal spring-loaded piston.
Auxilary appliance - Answer: A standpipe and/or sprinkler system.
Backlash - Answer: In the case of the aerial device, the motion that occurs when rotating the aerial, and
when the bull gear and turntable bearing have play in the gear spacing. The aerial will rock slightly back
and forth if there is excessive end-play backlash.
Balanced0-pressure system - Answer: `A fire apparatus-mounted foam system that uses a diaphragm-
type pressure control valve to sense and balance the pressures in the foam concentrate and water lines
to the proportioner.
Ball valve - Answer: A type of valve used on nozzles, gated wyes, and engine discharge gates. It consists
of a ball with a hole in the middle of the ball.
Bankshot (bankdown) method - Answer: A method that applies the foam stream onto a nearby object,
such as a wall, instead of directly at the fire.
Batch mixing - Answer: Pouring foam concentrate directly into the fire apparatus water tank, thereby
mixing a large amount of foam at one time.
