S-130 EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Origin - Answer -The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the fire
spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head - Answer -The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread
(ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming speed.
Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers - Answer -long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
Pocket - Answer -The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter - Answer -the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside edge—of
the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear - Answer -or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks - Answer -The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main direction of
fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are looking from the heel of
a fire toward the head.
Islands - Answer -Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover - Answer -Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier - Answer -Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the
spread of wildland fires.
Contain - Answer -To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected to
check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
The Green - Answer -Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color, adjacent
to but not involved in a wildland fire.
,The Black - Answer -Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) - Answer -Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain - Answer -A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Creeping - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Running - Answer -Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing - Answer -Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or against the
wind
Spotting - Answer -When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried by
winds or a convection column
Torching - Answer -Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of trees or
shrubs before returning to the surface
Crowning - Answer -When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up - Answer -Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the fire. A
flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing control
plans.
Blowups - Answer -Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to prevent
or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback to existing
suppression plans.
Mop-Up - Answer -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.
Air Tanker - Answer -Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during an air
attack.
Classification of Fire A-G - Answer -Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
,Class F—1,000 to 4,999.9 acres (405 to 2,024 ha)
Class G—5,000 acres (2,025 ha) or more
Fire Season - Answer -Period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to occur,
spread, and damage wildland values sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression.
Extended-Attack Fire - Answer -Situation in which a fire cannot be controlled by initial-
attack resources within a reasonable period of time.
Gear Weight Limitations - Answer -Total individual gear weight—65 pounds (30 kg)
Web gear weight without water—20 pounds (9 kg)
Personal gear weight—45 pounds (21 kg)
Web Gear - Answer -Carry various tools in canvas pouches. Remember, your web gear
weight without water is supposed to be 20 pounds or less.
Canteen, Weather kit, Fire shelter, First-aid kit, Fusees, Portable radio and Food
RED Bag (Gear Bag) - Answer -Use your red bag to sock away extra clothing for up to
14 days and a lightweight sleeping bag. Remember, your personal gear weight limit is
45 pounds.
Personal Items - Answer -Matches (in a waterproof
container),Watch,Pocketknife,Eyeglasses and sunglasses,Water,Rain
gear,Compass,Toilet paper,Spare,boot laces,Bandanas,Flip flops to wear in shower
stalls,Small towel,Small flashlight,Instant hand sanitizer
Scratch Line - Answer -Unfinished preliminary control line hastily established or
constructed as an emergency measure to check the spread of fire.
Incident Command System (ICS) - Answer -A standardized on-scene emergency
management concept specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an integrated
organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or multiple
incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Commander (IC) - Answer -Person in charge of and responsible for the
management of all incident operations.
Incident Safety Officer (ISO) - Answer -Member of the command staff responsible to
the incident commander for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe conditions
and developing measures for assessing personnel safety on the incident.
Unified Command - Answer -Team effort in the Incident Command System that allows
all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional, to
manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies.
, Span of Control - Answer -Maximum number of subordinates that can be effectively
supervised; ranges from three to seven individuals or functions, with five generally
established as optimum.
Check IN - Answer -Process or location used by assigned resources to report in at an
incident.
Incident Action Plan (IAP) - Answer -Contains objectives reflecting the overall incident
strategy and specific tactical actions for the next operational period
Division/Group Assignment List - Answer -A list used on the fireground that identifies
resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Resource Tracking - Answer -A list used on the fireground that identifies resources with
active assignments in the Operations section.
Initial Attack - Answer -Control efforts taken by the resources that are the first to arrive
at an incident.
Control - Answer -Point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has been
halted and can reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
C-FLOP - Answer -Command
Finance/Admin
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Command - Answer -Direct the overall management of the incident. To relieve the IC of
various tasks not directly related to controlling the incident, the IC may appoint one or
more members of a command staff, including:
Safety officer
Liaison officer
Public information officer
Safety Officer - Answer -Assesses hazardous and unsafe situations and develops
measures for ensuring personnel safety. This person has emergency authority to stop
and/or prevent unsafe acts.
Liaison Officer - Answer -Acts as point of contact for representatives of all agencies
assisting or cooperating in the incident.
Public Information Officer (PIO) - Answer -Develops accurate and complete information
regarding the incident and your responses. Acts as point of contact for the media and
other governmental agencies that desire information about the incident.
Origin - Answer -The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the fire
spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head - Answer -The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread
(ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming speed.
Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers - Answer -long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
Pocket - Answer -The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter - Answer -the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside edge—of
the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear - Answer -or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks - Answer -The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main direction of
fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are looking from the heel of
a fire toward the head.
Islands - Answer -Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover - Answer -Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier - Answer -Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the
spread of wildland fires.
Contain - Answer -To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected to
check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
The Green - Answer -Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color, adjacent
to but not involved in a wildland fire.
,The Black - Answer -Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) - Answer -Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain - Answer -A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Creeping - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Running - Answer -Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing - Answer -Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or against the
wind
Spotting - Answer -When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried by
winds or a convection column
Torching - Answer -Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of trees or
shrubs before returning to the surface
Crowning - Answer -When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up - Answer -Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the fire. A
flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing control
plans.
Blowups - Answer -Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to prevent
or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback to existing
suppression plans.
Mop-Up - Answer -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.
Air Tanker - Answer -Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during an air
attack.
Classification of Fire A-G - Answer -Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
,Class F—1,000 to 4,999.9 acres (405 to 2,024 ha)
Class G—5,000 acres (2,025 ha) or more
Fire Season - Answer -Period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to occur,
spread, and damage wildland values sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression.
Extended-Attack Fire - Answer -Situation in which a fire cannot be controlled by initial-
attack resources within a reasonable period of time.
Gear Weight Limitations - Answer -Total individual gear weight—65 pounds (30 kg)
Web gear weight without water—20 pounds (9 kg)
Personal gear weight—45 pounds (21 kg)
Web Gear - Answer -Carry various tools in canvas pouches. Remember, your web gear
weight without water is supposed to be 20 pounds or less.
Canteen, Weather kit, Fire shelter, First-aid kit, Fusees, Portable radio and Food
RED Bag (Gear Bag) - Answer -Use your red bag to sock away extra clothing for up to
14 days and a lightweight sleeping bag. Remember, your personal gear weight limit is
45 pounds.
Personal Items - Answer -Matches (in a waterproof
container),Watch,Pocketknife,Eyeglasses and sunglasses,Water,Rain
gear,Compass,Toilet paper,Spare,boot laces,Bandanas,Flip flops to wear in shower
stalls,Small towel,Small flashlight,Instant hand sanitizer
Scratch Line - Answer -Unfinished preliminary control line hastily established or
constructed as an emergency measure to check the spread of fire.
Incident Command System (ICS) - Answer -A standardized on-scene emergency
management concept specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an integrated
organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or multiple
incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Commander (IC) - Answer -Person in charge of and responsible for the
management of all incident operations.
Incident Safety Officer (ISO) - Answer -Member of the command staff responsible to
the incident commander for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe conditions
and developing measures for assessing personnel safety on the incident.
Unified Command - Answer -Team effort in the Incident Command System that allows
all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional, to
manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies.
, Span of Control - Answer -Maximum number of subordinates that can be effectively
supervised; ranges from three to seven individuals or functions, with five generally
established as optimum.
Check IN - Answer -Process or location used by assigned resources to report in at an
incident.
Incident Action Plan (IAP) - Answer -Contains objectives reflecting the overall incident
strategy and specific tactical actions for the next operational period
Division/Group Assignment List - Answer -A list used on the fireground that identifies
resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Resource Tracking - Answer -A list used on the fireground that identifies resources with
active assignments in the Operations section.
Initial Attack - Answer -Control efforts taken by the resources that are the first to arrive
at an incident.
Control - Answer -Point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has been
halted and can reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
C-FLOP - Answer -Command
Finance/Admin
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Command - Answer -Direct the overall management of the incident. To relieve the IC of
various tasks not directly related to controlling the incident, the IC may appoint one or
more members of a command staff, including:
Safety officer
Liaison officer
Public information officer
Safety Officer - Answer -Assesses hazardous and unsafe situations and develops
measures for ensuring personnel safety. This person has emergency authority to stop
and/or prevent unsafe acts.
Liaison Officer - Answer -Acts as point of contact for representatives of all agencies
assisting or cooperating in the incident.
Public Information Officer (PIO) - Answer -Develops accurate and complete information
regarding the incident and your responses. Acts as point of contact for the media and
other governmental agencies that desire information about the incident.
