WILDLAND FIRE – 60 QUESTIONS , ANSWERS
& RATIONALES(S-130 / S-190 aligned)
This document is designed to prepare students and professionals
for wildland firefighter training (S-130/S-190) and includes 60
multiple-choice questions that cover both firefighter
fundamentals and fire behavior.
1.
Which factor MOST influences wildland fire spread?
A. Fuel moisture
B. Terrain
C. Wind (correct answer)
D. Air temperature
Rationale:
Wind controls flame length, spotting distance, and fire direction. It can turn a slow-
moving fire into a rapidly spreading one within minutes.
2.
What is the primary indicator of fuel moisture?
A. Fuel color
B. Fuel sound when snapped (correct answer)
C. Fuel weight
D. Fuel height
Rationale:
Dry fuels snap easily, while moist fuels bend. Field personnel use this quick test to
assess readiness for ignition.
3.
Which fuels ignite the fastest?
A. Heavy logs
B. Deep duff
C. Fine fuels (correct answer)
D. Rotten stumps
,Rationale:
Fine fuels dry quickly and have a high surface-area-to-volume ratio. This makes them
extremely receptive to sparks and embers.
4.
A fire that moves primarily through the tops of trees is known as:
A. Ground fire
B. Surface fire
C. Crown fire (correct answer)
D. Spot fire
Rationale:
Crown fires consume tree canopies and spread rapidly. They are dangerous and
difficult to control.
5.
Which slope position is typically the most dangerous for firefighters?
A. Valley bottom
B. Ridge top
C. Mid-slope (correct answer)
D. North aspect
Rationale:
Heat rises and preheats fuels above the flame front, causing mid-slope fires to
intensify. Escape routes may also be limited.
6.
Which weather pattern most often leads to extreme fire behavior?
A. Cloudy skies
B. Cold front passage (correct answer)
C. Fog
D. Overcast mornings
Rationale:
Cold fronts bring sudden wind shifts and gusty conditions. These can cause rapid fire
spread and unpredictable flame movement.
7.
, The primary ignition source for naturally occurring wildfires is:
A. Cigarettes
B. Machinery
C. Lightning (correct answer)
D. Arson
Rationale:
Lightning is the top natural cause due to high-energy strikes in dry vegetation. In
some regions it accounts for the majority of starts.
8.
Which element is NOT part of the Fire Behavior Triangle?
A. Fuel
B. Weather
C. Topography
D. Oxygen (correct answer)
Rationale:
While oxygen is necessary for combustion, the fire behavior triangle focuses on
environmental influences. Those three components determine fire intensity and
movement.
9.
What is the safest type of anchor point?
A. Vegetation patch
B. Burned area (correct answer)
C. Saddle
D. Ridge top
Rationale:
Burned ground reduces the chance of fire spreading behind crews. This prevents
firefighters from being flanked.
10.
A fire whirl is primarily caused by:
A. Windless conditions
B. Unstable air and strong convection (correct answer)
C. High humidity
D. Dense fuels
& RATIONALES(S-130 / S-190 aligned)
This document is designed to prepare students and professionals
for wildland firefighter training (S-130/S-190) and includes 60
multiple-choice questions that cover both firefighter
fundamentals and fire behavior.
1.
Which factor MOST influences wildland fire spread?
A. Fuel moisture
B. Terrain
C. Wind (correct answer)
D. Air temperature
Rationale:
Wind controls flame length, spotting distance, and fire direction. It can turn a slow-
moving fire into a rapidly spreading one within minutes.
2.
What is the primary indicator of fuel moisture?
A. Fuel color
B. Fuel sound when snapped (correct answer)
C. Fuel weight
D. Fuel height
Rationale:
Dry fuels snap easily, while moist fuels bend. Field personnel use this quick test to
assess readiness for ignition.
3.
Which fuels ignite the fastest?
A. Heavy logs
B. Deep duff
C. Fine fuels (correct answer)
D. Rotten stumps
,Rationale:
Fine fuels dry quickly and have a high surface-area-to-volume ratio. This makes them
extremely receptive to sparks and embers.
4.
A fire that moves primarily through the tops of trees is known as:
A. Ground fire
B. Surface fire
C. Crown fire (correct answer)
D. Spot fire
Rationale:
Crown fires consume tree canopies and spread rapidly. They are dangerous and
difficult to control.
5.
Which slope position is typically the most dangerous for firefighters?
A. Valley bottom
B. Ridge top
C. Mid-slope (correct answer)
D. North aspect
Rationale:
Heat rises and preheats fuels above the flame front, causing mid-slope fires to
intensify. Escape routes may also be limited.
6.
Which weather pattern most often leads to extreme fire behavior?
A. Cloudy skies
B. Cold front passage (correct answer)
C. Fog
D. Overcast mornings
Rationale:
Cold fronts bring sudden wind shifts and gusty conditions. These can cause rapid fire
spread and unpredictable flame movement.
7.
, The primary ignition source for naturally occurring wildfires is:
A. Cigarettes
B. Machinery
C. Lightning (correct answer)
D. Arson
Rationale:
Lightning is the top natural cause due to high-energy strikes in dry vegetation. In
some regions it accounts for the majority of starts.
8.
Which element is NOT part of the Fire Behavior Triangle?
A. Fuel
B. Weather
C. Topography
D. Oxygen (correct answer)
Rationale:
While oxygen is necessary for combustion, the fire behavior triangle focuses on
environmental influences. Those three components determine fire intensity and
movement.
9.
What is the safest type of anchor point?
A. Vegetation patch
B. Burned area (correct answer)
C. Saddle
D. Ridge top
Rationale:
Burned ground reduces the chance of fire spreading behind crews. This prevents
firefighters from being flanked.
10.
A fire whirl is primarily caused by:
A. Windless conditions
B. Unstable air and strong convection (correct answer)
C. High humidity
D. Dense fuels
