S-130 - Basic Wildland Firefighting Questions
with 100% Correct Answers
Origin Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct Answer: The unburned area between
the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter Correct Answer: the outer boundary—or the
distance around the outside edge—of the burning or
burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct Answer: Unburned areas inside the fire
perimeter. Because they are unburned potential fuels,
patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
,Slopover Correct Answer: Fire edge that crosses a
control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier Correct Answer: Any area where lack of
flammable material obstructs the spread of wildland
fires.
Contain Correct 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 Correct Answer: Area of unburned fuels, not
necessarily green in color, adjacent to but not involved
in a wildland fire.
The Black Correct Answer: Area already burned by a
wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) Correct 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 Correct Answer: A surveying term and equals 66
ft.
Smoldering Correct Answer: Fire is one that burns without
a flame and is barely spreading
Creeping Correct Answer: Fire is one that burns without
a flame and is barely spreading
Running Correct Answer: Fire is one that spreads rapidly
with a well-defined head
Backing Correct Answer: Where the fire moves away
from the head, downhill, or against the wind
Spotting Correct Answer: When sparks or embers
produced by the main fire are carried by winds or a
convection column
Torching Correct Answer: Periodically ignites the crown
of a single or small group of trees or shrubs before
returning to the surface
with 100% Correct Answers
Origin Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct Answer: The unburned area between
the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter Correct Answer: the outer boundary—or the
distance around the outside edge—of the burning or
burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear Correct 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 Correct 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 Correct Answer: Unburned areas inside the fire
perimeter. Because they are unburned potential fuels,
patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
,Slopover Correct Answer: Fire edge that crosses a
control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier Correct Answer: Any area where lack of
flammable material obstructs the spread of wildland
fires.
Contain Correct 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 Correct Answer: Area of unburned fuels, not
necessarily green in color, adjacent to but not involved
in a wildland fire.
The Black Correct Answer: Area already burned by a
wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) Correct 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 Correct Answer: A surveying term and equals 66
ft.
Smoldering Correct Answer: Fire is one that burns without
a flame and is barely spreading
Creeping Correct Answer: Fire is one that burns without
a flame and is barely spreading
Running Correct Answer: Fire is one that spreads rapidly
with a well-defined head
Backing Correct Answer: Where the fire moves away
from the head, downhill, or against the wind
Spotting Correct Answer: When sparks or embers
produced by the main fire are carried by winds or a
convection column
Torching Correct Answer: Periodically ignites the crown
of a single or small group of trees or shrubs before
returning to the surface
