FIREFIGHTER SELECTION TEST ACTUAL TEST 2026 | READING, MATH, MAP
READING, HUMAN RELATIONS, AND REASONING | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
Which of the following best summarizes the primary duties of a modern firefighter?
A) Conducting investigations into criminal arson cases and arresting suspects.
B) Responding to emergencies, extinguishing fires, treating injuries, and performing vital safety
functions.
C) Primarily focusing on building construction and architecture to prevent future fires.
D) Maintaining city hydrants and water lines as the primary daily task.
E) Operating exclusively in urban areas to manage high-rise emergencies.
Correct Answer: B) Responding to emergencies, extinguishing fires, treating injuries, and
performing vital safety functions.
Rationale: Modern firefighting is an "all-hazards" profession. While fire suppression is a
core component, firefighters are also responsible for emergency medical services (EMS),
technical rescue, and various public safety functions. Their role requires them to be
versatile responders capable of handling life-threatening situations beyond just active
flames.
Question 2
What is the primary responsibility of a firefighter during their scheduled duty hours?
A) To conduct at least five community outreach programs per shift.
B) To assist the police department with traffic citations.
C) To be prepared to respond immediately to fires or other emergencies.
D) To spend the majority of their time studying local building codes.
E) To monitor weather patterns from watchtowers in urban centers.
Correct Answer: C) To be prepared to respond immediately to fires or other emergencies.
Rationale: The nature of emergency services demands constant readiness. During duty
hours, firefighters must maintain their equipment and themselves in a state of "immediate
response." This means that regardless of their current activity (training, maintenance, or
rest), they must be able to deploy to an incident the moment an alarm sounds.
, 2
Question 3
In addition to fire suppression techniques, what specific medical training do many firefighters
receive?
A) Advanced surgical certification for field operations.
B) Training in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
C) Emergency medical procedures and potential certification as an Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT).
D) Specialized training in veterinary emergency care.
E) Certification in hospital administration.
Correct Answer: C) They receive training in emergency medical procedures and may be
certified as emergency medical technicians.
Rationale: Statistics show that the vast majority of calls to fire departments are for medical
emergencies rather than active fires. Consequently, most fire departments require their
personnel to have medical training, ranging from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced
Life Support (ALS/Paramedic), to stabilize patients before they reach a hospital.
Question 4
Which of the following locations describes the typical working environments for firefighters?
A) Exclusively in metropolitan downtown areas.
B) Only in remote wilderness areas and national parks.
C) In urban and suburban areas, airports, chemical plants, industrial sites, and rural areas.
D) Strictly within federal government installations.
E) Only in areas where the population exceeds one million people.
Correct Answer: C) Firefighters work in urban and suburban areas, airports, chemical
plants, industrial sites, and rural areas.
Rationale: Fire protection is required in every environment where humans live, work, or
travel. This includes high-density cities, industrial facilities with specialized hazards (like
chemical plants), transportation hubs (airports), and remote rural districts. Each
environment requires different specialized skills and equipment.
, 3
Question 5
What is the specific role assigned to forest fire inspectors?
A) Parachuting from planes to fight fires in remote locations.
B) Spotting fires from watchtowers and reporting findings to headquarters.
C) Driving bulldozers to clear vegetation in urban centers.
D) Interviewing witnesses at the scene of house fires.
E) Educating elementary students on campfire safety only.
Correct Answer: B) They spot fires from watchtowers and report findings to headquarters.
Rationale: Forest fire inspectors (or lookouts) serve as the early warning system for
wildland fire management. By occupying high-altitude watchtowers, they can scan vast
areas of wilderness for smoke or heat signatures, allowing for a rapid response before a
small brush fire turns into a catastrophic wildfire.
Question 6
Which group of firefighters is specifically trained to parachute from airplanes into inaccessible
wilderness areas?
A) Forest fire inspectors.
B) Industrial firefighters.
C) Smoke jumpers.
D) Fire lieutenants.
E) Volunteer captains.
Correct Answer: C) Smoke jumpers.
Rationale: Smoke jumpers are elite wildland firefighters. Their primary mission is to reach
remote fires that cannot be accessed by roads or traditional foot travel. By parachuting into
these areas, they can begin containment efforts (like building fire lines) immediately,
preventing the spread of the fire while more resources are being mobilized.
Question 7
Which of the following best describes the working conditions and risks faced by firefighters?
A) They work primarily in climate-controlled offices with minimal physical risk.
B) They face risks from fires and hazardous materials and must respond rapidly to alarms.
, 4
C) They are only at risk during the summer months due to wildland fires.
D) Their primary risk is limited to traffic accidents during non-emergency travel.
E) They work in isolated environments where they rarely interact with the public.
Correct Answer: B) They work in fire stations and respond rapidly to alarms, facing risks
from fires and hazardous materials.
Rationale: Firefighting is inherently dangerous. Beyond the obvious threat of heat and
flames, firefighters are exposed to toxic smoke, structural collapses, hazardous chemicals,
and high-stress environments. The requirement for a "rapid response" further adds the
risk of accidents during emergency transit.
Question 8
What is a common work schedule for career firefighters?
A) A standard 9-to-5 schedule, Monday through Friday.
B) 40 hours a week with weekends and holidays off.
C) A 24-hour on-duty schedule followed by 48 hours off, often exceeding 50 hours a week.
D) Working 12-hour night shifts for seven consecutive days.
E) Working only when an alarm is triggered with no set station hours.
Correct Answer: C) Many work more than 50 hours a week, often on a 24-hour on-duty
schedule followed by 48 hours off.
Rationale: Fire protection must be provided 24/7. The "24/48" shift is a standard in the fire
service, ensuring the station is always manned. Because firefighters are on duty for 24
hours at a time, their weekly average hours are significantly higher than the standard 40-
hour work week.
Question 9
What percentage of fire companies in the United States are estimated to be staffed by volunteer
firefighters?
A) Less than 10 percent.
/B) Exactly 50 percent.
C) Nearly 70 percent.
READING, HUMAN RELATIONS, AND REASONING | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
Which of the following best summarizes the primary duties of a modern firefighter?
A) Conducting investigations into criminal arson cases and arresting suspects.
B) Responding to emergencies, extinguishing fires, treating injuries, and performing vital safety
functions.
C) Primarily focusing on building construction and architecture to prevent future fires.
D) Maintaining city hydrants and water lines as the primary daily task.
E) Operating exclusively in urban areas to manage high-rise emergencies.
Correct Answer: B) Responding to emergencies, extinguishing fires, treating injuries, and
performing vital safety functions.
Rationale: Modern firefighting is an "all-hazards" profession. While fire suppression is a
core component, firefighters are also responsible for emergency medical services (EMS),
technical rescue, and various public safety functions. Their role requires them to be
versatile responders capable of handling life-threatening situations beyond just active
flames.
Question 2
What is the primary responsibility of a firefighter during their scheduled duty hours?
A) To conduct at least five community outreach programs per shift.
B) To assist the police department with traffic citations.
C) To be prepared to respond immediately to fires or other emergencies.
D) To spend the majority of their time studying local building codes.
E) To monitor weather patterns from watchtowers in urban centers.
Correct Answer: C) To be prepared to respond immediately to fires or other emergencies.
Rationale: The nature of emergency services demands constant readiness. During duty
hours, firefighters must maintain their equipment and themselves in a state of "immediate
response." This means that regardless of their current activity (training, maintenance, or
rest), they must be able to deploy to an incident the moment an alarm sounds.
, 2
Question 3
In addition to fire suppression techniques, what specific medical training do many firefighters
receive?
A) Advanced surgical certification for field operations.
B) Training in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
C) Emergency medical procedures and potential certification as an Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT).
D) Specialized training in veterinary emergency care.
E) Certification in hospital administration.
Correct Answer: C) They receive training in emergency medical procedures and may be
certified as emergency medical technicians.
Rationale: Statistics show that the vast majority of calls to fire departments are for medical
emergencies rather than active fires. Consequently, most fire departments require their
personnel to have medical training, ranging from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced
Life Support (ALS/Paramedic), to stabilize patients before they reach a hospital.
Question 4
Which of the following locations describes the typical working environments for firefighters?
A) Exclusively in metropolitan downtown areas.
B) Only in remote wilderness areas and national parks.
C) In urban and suburban areas, airports, chemical plants, industrial sites, and rural areas.
D) Strictly within federal government installations.
E) Only in areas where the population exceeds one million people.
Correct Answer: C) Firefighters work in urban and suburban areas, airports, chemical
plants, industrial sites, and rural areas.
Rationale: Fire protection is required in every environment where humans live, work, or
travel. This includes high-density cities, industrial facilities with specialized hazards (like
chemical plants), transportation hubs (airports), and remote rural districts. Each
environment requires different specialized skills and equipment.
, 3
Question 5
What is the specific role assigned to forest fire inspectors?
A) Parachuting from planes to fight fires in remote locations.
B) Spotting fires from watchtowers and reporting findings to headquarters.
C) Driving bulldozers to clear vegetation in urban centers.
D) Interviewing witnesses at the scene of house fires.
E) Educating elementary students on campfire safety only.
Correct Answer: B) They spot fires from watchtowers and report findings to headquarters.
Rationale: Forest fire inspectors (or lookouts) serve as the early warning system for
wildland fire management. By occupying high-altitude watchtowers, they can scan vast
areas of wilderness for smoke or heat signatures, allowing for a rapid response before a
small brush fire turns into a catastrophic wildfire.
Question 6
Which group of firefighters is specifically trained to parachute from airplanes into inaccessible
wilderness areas?
A) Forest fire inspectors.
B) Industrial firefighters.
C) Smoke jumpers.
D) Fire lieutenants.
E) Volunteer captains.
Correct Answer: C) Smoke jumpers.
Rationale: Smoke jumpers are elite wildland firefighters. Their primary mission is to reach
remote fires that cannot be accessed by roads or traditional foot travel. By parachuting into
these areas, they can begin containment efforts (like building fire lines) immediately,
preventing the spread of the fire while more resources are being mobilized.
Question 7
Which of the following best describes the working conditions and risks faced by firefighters?
A) They work primarily in climate-controlled offices with minimal physical risk.
B) They face risks from fires and hazardous materials and must respond rapidly to alarms.
, 4
C) They are only at risk during the summer months due to wildland fires.
D) Their primary risk is limited to traffic accidents during non-emergency travel.
E) They work in isolated environments where they rarely interact with the public.
Correct Answer: B) They work in fire stations and respond rapidly to alarms, facing risks
from fires and hazardous materials.
Rationale: Firefighting is inherently dangerous. Beyond the obvious threat of heat and
flames, firefighters are exposed to toxic smoke, structural collapses, hazardous chemicals,
and high-stress environments. The requirement for a "rapid response" further adds the
risk of accidents during emergency transit.
Question 8
What is a common work schedule for career firefighters?
A) A standard 9-to-5 schedule, Monday through Friday.
B) 40 hours a week with weekends and holidays off.
C) A 24-hour on-duty schedule followed by 48 hours off, often exceeding 50 hours a week.
D) Working 12-hour night shifts for seven consecutive days.
E) Working only when an alarm is triggered with no set station hours.
Correct Answer: C) Many work more than 50 hours a week, often on a 24-hour on-duty
schedule followed by 48 hours off.
Rationale: Fire protection must be provided 24/7. The "24/48" shift is a standard in the fire
service, ensuring the station is always manned. Because firefighters are on duty for 24
hours at a time, their weekly average hours are significantly higher than the standard 40-
hour work week.
Question 9
What percentage of fire companies in the United States are estimated to be staffed by volunteer
firefighters?
A) Less than 10 percent.
/B) Exactly 50 percent.
C) Nearly 70 percent.
