S190 Exam with complete solutions
2024/2025
Point of Origin - ANSWER- The location where the fire started
Head of Fire - ANSWER- The side of the fire having the fastest rate of spread-
usually hottest
Flank of a fire - ANSWER- The part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to
the main direction of spread.
Rear of a fire or heel of fire - ANSWER- Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge...
spreads directly into the wind or down slope.... opposite of the head....
Fire perimeter - ANSWER- The entire outer edge or boundary of a wildland fire.
Islands may create interior perimeters
Fingers of a fire - ANSWER- Extension of main fire - the long narrow extensions
of a fire projecting from the main body
Pockets of a fire - ANSWER- Unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by
fingers or slow burning areas
Island of a fire - ANSWER- area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter, usually
a rock outcrop or lake
Spot fire - ANSWER- Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a
firebrand.... embers can jump ahead up to 1/4 or 1/2 mile
Smoldering - ANSWER- burning with little smoke and no flame... barely spreading
, Creeping fire - ANSWER- Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running fire - ANSWER- Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined
head and flanks
Spotting fire - ANSWER- behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are
carried by the wind and start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the
main fire
Torching fire - ANSWER- The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small
group of trees, from the bottom up. mostly conifers
Crown fire - ANSWER- Extremely hot fire that leaps from treetop to treetop more
or less independent of a surface fire... sometimes classed as running or
dependent to distinguish the degree of independence from the surface fire
Flare up - ANSWER- any sudden acceleration in the rate of spread or
intensification of the fire. unlike blowup, a flare-up is of relativity short duration
and does not change existing control plans
Firewhirl - ANSWER- spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases
rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame. fire whirls range in
size from less than one foot to over 500 feet in diameter. large fire whirls have the
intensity of a small tornado... make own weather.... sign of unstable atmosphere
Backing fire - ANSWER- That portion of the fire with slower rates of fire spread
and lower intensity, normally moving into the wind and or down slope. Also
called heel fire
Flaming front - ANSWER- that zone of a moving fire where the combustion is
primarily flaming. behind this flaming zone combustion is primarily glowing or
involves the burning out of larger fuels (greater than about 3 inches in diameter).
light fuels typically have a shallow flaming front, whereas
heavy fuels have a deeper front.
Anchor Point - ANSWER- advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread,
from which to start constructing wireline. Used to minimize chance of being
flanked by fire while the line is being constructed
Control Line - ANSWER- An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers
and treated fire edges used to contain a fire... mineral soil break
2024/2025
Point of Origin - ANSWER- The location where the fire started
Head of Fire - ANSWER- The side of the fire having the fastest rate of spread-
usually hottest
Flank of a fire - ANSWER- The part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to
the main direction of spread.
Rear of a fire or heel of fire - ANSWER- Slowest spreading portion of a fire edge...
spreads directly into the wind or down slope.... opposite of the head....
Fire perimeter - ANSWER- The entire outer edge or boundary of a wildland fire.
Islands may create interior perimeters
Fingers of a fire - ANSWER- Extension of main fire - the long narrow extensions
of a fire projecting from the main body
Pockets of a fire - ANSWER- Unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by
fingers or slow burning areas
Island of a fire - ANSWER- area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter, usually
a rock outcrop or lake
Spot fire - ANSWER- Fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a
firebrand.... embers can jump ahead up to 1/4 or 1/2 mile
Smoldering - ANSWER- burning with little smoke and no flame... barely spreading
, Creeping fire - ANSWER- Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running fire - ANSWER- Behavior of a fire spreading rapidly with a well defined
head and flanks
Spotting fire - ANSWER- behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are
carried by the wind and start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the
main fire
Torching fire - ANSWER- The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small
group of trees, from the bottom up. mostly conifers
Crown fire - ANSWER- Extremely hot fire that leaps from treetop to treetop more
or less independent of a surface fire... sometimes classed as running or
dependent to distinguish the degree of independence from the surface fire
Flare up - ANSWER- any sudden acceleration in the rate of spread or
intensification of the fire. unlike blowup, a flare-up is of relativity short duration
and does not change existing control plans
Firewhirl - ANSWER- spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases
rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame. fire whirls range in
size from less than one foot to over 500 feet in diameter. large fire whirls have the
intensity of a small tornado... make own weather.... sign of unstable atmosphere
Backing fire - ANSWER- That portion of the fire with slower rates of fire spread
and lower intensity, normally moving into the wind and or down slope. Also
called heel fire
Flaming front - ANSWER- that zone of a moving fire where the combustion is
primarily flaming. behind this flaming zone combustion is primarily glowing or
involves the burning out of larger fuels (greater than about 3 inches in diameter).
light fuels typically have a shallow flaming front, whereas
heavy fuels have a deeper front.
Anchor Point - ANSWER- advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread,
from which to start constructing wireline. Used to minimize chance of being
flanked by fire while the line is being constructed
Control Line - ANSWER- An inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers
and treated fire edges used to contain a fire... mineral soil break
