ALL FIREFIGHTER 1 PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
1. NFPA 1001 is the:
A. Standard for Industrial Fire Brigades
B. Standard for Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs
C. Standard for Blood Borne Pathogen Training
D. Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
Rationale: NFPA 1001 sets the national standard for firefighter professional
qualifications, outlining the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required for
Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 levels. It ensures consistency in training and operational
readiness across fire departments.
2. One of the primary functions of the truck/ladder company is:
A. performing forcible entry to the fire building
B. directing traffic at the scene
C. laying supply lines for engine companies
D. fire attack
Rationale: Truck or ladder companies specialize in search and rescue, ventilation,
and forcible entry. Their role is critical to gaining access and creating conditions for
the engine company to attack the fire effectively.
3. OSHA may establish regulations governing fire department activities such
as:
A. work hours
B. anti-discrimination laws
C. the level of experience required to hold a chief's office
D. health and safety
Rationale: OSHA regulates workplace health and safety to minimize risk to
firefighters. Regulations cover personal protective equipment (PPE), safe practices,
and exposure to hazardous environments.
4. In the Incident Command System (ICS), the functional area responsible for
all incident activities, including strategic decisions, is:
A. Planning
B. Operations
C. Logistics
D. Command
Rationale: The Incident Commander oversees the entire operation, sets objectives,
allocates resources, and ensures incident safety. Other functions like Operations,
Planning, and Logistics report to Command.
,5. What normal body cooling mechanism is lost when wearing PPE?
A. Radiation from the head
B. Radiation from the body
C. Internal cooling from ingestion
D. Evaporation of perspiration
Rationale: Firefighter PPE is designed for thermal protection, but it prevents sweat
from evaporating, which is the body’s primary cooling mechanism. This contributes to
heat stress and fatigue on the fireground.
6. What is one aspect of high-rise fires that is especially draining of energy?
A. Walking up many flights of stairs in PPE
B. Taking the elevator up only to the floor below the fire
C. The inevitable compromise of the HVAC system
D. Establishing staging many floors below the fire floor
Rationale: High-rise firefighting requires ascending multiple flights of stairs while
carrying equipment and wearing heavy PPE. This significantly increases cardiovascular
and muscular strain compared to ground-level fires.
7. A _____ permits firefighters to gain access during an emergency.
A. lockout
B. tagout
C. Baker box
D. key box/lock box
Rationale: Key boxes (or Knox Boxes) store building keys for emergency access. Fire
departments use them to enter locked structures quickly, improving response times
and firefighter safety.
8. The _____ is tied as illustrated below:
A. bowline
B. becket/sheet bend
C. clove hitch
D. figure eight
Rationale: The figure-eight knot is commonly used in life safety applications due to
its strength and ability to prevent slippage. It is often tied at the end of ropes for
securing loads or personnel.
9. In kernmantle rope, the kern or core of the rope accounts for
approximately:
A. 50 percent
B. 90 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 25 percent
Rationale: Kernmantle rope has a core (kern) that bears 90% of the load, while the
outer sheath (mantle) protects the core from abrasion and environmental damage.
Proper inspection ensures rope integrity.
, 10. The _____ is tied as illustrated in the drawing below:
A. bowline
B. half hitch
C. clove hitch
D. figure-eight
Rationale: The clove hitch is a simple binding knot used to secure ropes to poles or
objects. It is quick to tie and untie, making it valuable for rescue and rigging
operations.
11. The combination of knots recommended to hoist a pike pole includes:
A. becket/sheet bend with a bight
B. several half hitches
C. bowline and half hitches
D. a clove hitch and half hitches
Rationale: When hoisting tools like pike poles, a clove hitch combined with half
hitches secures the tool and prevents slippage. This configuration is safe for vertical
lifting and ensures control of heavy or awkward objects.
12. The order of rank and authority in the fire service describes:
A. chain of command
B. discipline
C. span of control
D. unity of command
Rationale: Chain of command defines the hierarchy of authority, ensuring orders flow
efficiently from higher ranks to subordinates. This structure reduces confusion and
maintains operational discipline during emergencies.
13. The street, or address side of the structure is termed:
A. Division A
B. Division B
C. Division C
D. Division D
Rationale: Division A is universally recognized as the street-facing side of a building.
This standardization helps firefighters communicate location references quickly on the
fireground.
14. The ratio of the mass of a given volume of liquid compared with the mass
of an equal volume of water at the same temperature is:
A. specific gravity
B. vapor density
C. flash point
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
1. NFPA 1001 is the:
A. Standard for Industrial Fire Brigades
B. Standard for Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs
C. Standard for Blood Borne Pathogen Training
D. Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
Rationale: NFPA 1001 sets the national standard for firefighter professional
qualifications, outlining the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required for
Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 levels. It ensures consistency in training and operational
readiness across fire departments.
2. One of the primary functions of the truck/ladder company is:
A. performing forcible entry to the fire building
B. directing traffic at the scene
C. laying supply lines for engine companies
D. fire attack
Rationale: Truck or ladder companies specialize in search and rescue, ventilation,
and forcible entry. Their role is critical to gaining access and creating conditions for
the engine company to attack the fire effectively.
3. OSHA may establish regulations governing fire department activities such
as:
A. work hours
B. anti-discrimination laws
C. the level of experience required to hold a chief's office
D. health and safety
Rationale: OSHA regulates workplace health and safety to minimize risk to
firefighters. Regulations cover personal protective equipment (PPE), safe practices,
and exposure to hazardous environments.
4. In the Incident Command System (ICS), the functional area responsible for
all incident activities, including strategic decisions, is:
A. Planning
B. Operations
C. Logistics
D. Command
Rationale: The Incident Commander oversees the entire operation, sets objectives,
allocates resources, and ensures incident safety. Other functions like Operations,
Planning, and Logistics report to Command.
,5. What normal body cooling mechanism is lost when wearing PPE?
A. Radiation from the head
B. Radiation from the body
C. Internal cooling from ingestion
D. Evaporation of perspiration
Rationale: Firefighter PPE is designed for thermal protection, but it prevents sweat
from evaporating, which is the body’s primary cooling mechanism. This contributes to
heat stress and fatigue on the fireground.
6. What is one aspect of high-rise fires that is especially draining of energy?
A. Walking up many flights of stairs in PPE
B. Taking the elevator up only to the floor below the fire
C. The inevitable compromise of the HVAC system
D. Establishing staging many floors below the fire floor
Rationale: High-rise firefighting requires ascending multiple flights of stairs while
carrying equipment and wearing heavy PPE. This significantly increases cardiovascular
and muscular strain compared to ground-level fires.
7. A _____ permits firefighters to gain access during an emergency.
A. lockout
B. tagout
C. Baker box
D. key box/lock box
Rationale: Key boxes (or Knox Boxes) store building keys for emergency access. Fire
departments use them to enter locked structures quickly, improving response times
and firefighter safety.
8. The _____ is tied as illustrated below:
A. bowline
B. becket/sheet bend
C. clove hitch
D. figure eight
Rationale: The figure-eight knot is commonly used in life safety applications due to
its strength and ability to prevent slippage. It is often tied at the end of ropes for
securing loads or personnel.
9. In kernmantle rope, the kern or core of the rope accounts for
approximately:
A. 50 percent
B. 90 percent
C. 75 percent
D. 25 percent
Rationale: Kernmantle rope has a core (kern) that bears 90% of the load, while the
outer sheath (mantle) protects the core from abrasion and environmental damage.
Proper inspection ensures rope integrity.
, 10. The _____ is tied as illustrated in the drawing below:
A. bowline
B. half hitch
C. clove hitch
D. figure-eight
Rationale: The clove hitch is a simple binding knot used to secure ropes to poles or
objects. It is quick to tie and untie, making it valuable for rescue and rigging
operations.
11. The combination of knots recommended to hoist a pike pole includes:
A. becket/sheet bend with a bight
B. several half hitches
C. bowline and half hitches
D. a clove hitch and half hitches
Rationale: When hoisting tools like pike poles, a clove hitch combined with half
hitches secures the tool and prevents slippage. This configuration is safe for vertical
lifting and ensures control of heavy or awkward objects.
12. The order of rank and authority in the fire service describes:
A. chain of command
B. discipline
C. span of control
D. unity of command
Rationale: Chain of command defines the hierarchy of authority, ensuring orders flow
efficiently from higher ranks to subordinates. This structure reduces confusion and
maintains operational discipline during emergencies.
13. The street, or address side of the structure is termed:
A. Division A
B. Division B
C. Division C
D. Division D
Rationale: Division A is universally recognized as the street-facing side of a building.
This standardization helps firefighters communicate location references quickly on the
fireground.
14. The ratio of the mass of a given volume of liquid compared with the mass
of an equal volume of water at the same temperature is:
A. specific gravity
B. vapor density
C. flash point
