FCTC WRITTEN EXAM 2026
Firefighter Exam Questions & Answers
150 Multiple-Choice Practice Questions with Highlighted
Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Fire Behavior and Fire Science
1. Which four elements make up the fire tetrahedron?
A. Heat, fuel, smoke, and water
B. Oxygen, nitrogen, heat, and spark
C. Fuel, wind, heat, and ventilation
D. Heat, fuel, oxygen, and an uninhibited chemical chain
reaction
Answer: D. Heat, fuel, oxygen, and an uninhibited chemical
chain reaction
Rationale: The fire tetrahedron adds the chemical chain reaction
to the three sides of the fire triangle. Removing any one element
stops combustion.
2. Heat transfer through direct contact between solid objects
is called:
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Pyrolysis
Answer: A. Conduction
Rationale: Conduction moves heat through a solid or between
touching objects, such as heat traveling along a metal pipe.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 1
,3. Heat transfer by the movement of heated gases or liquids
is called:
A. Conduction
B. Radiation
C. Convection
D. Direct flame contact
Answer: C. Convection
Rationale: Convection carries heat upward with hot smoke and
gases, which is why fire spreads up stairwells and shafts.
4. Heat that travels as electromagnetic waves, with no direct
contact needed, is called:
A. Conduction
B. Radiation
C. Convection
D. Absorption
Answer: B. Radiation
Rationale: Radiant heat can ignite exposures across a gap, much
like the sun warming your skin.
5. Flashover is best described as:
A. An explosion caused by opening a door
B. The first stage of a fire
C. Flames rolling across the ceiling only
D. The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible
materials in an enclosed area
Answer: D. The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible
materials in an enclosed area
Rationale: Flashover occurs when radiant heat raises room
contents to their ignition temperature at about the same time.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 2
,6. A backdraft occurs when:
A. Oxygen is suddenly introduced into a superheated,
oxygen-depleted space
B. A fire burns out of control in an open field
C. Water is applied to a Class B fire
D. Smoke is vented through the roof
Answer: A. Oxygen is suddenly introduced into a
superheated, oxygen-depleted space
Rationale: Unburned fuel gases in an oxygen-starved
compartment ignite explosively when fresh air arrives.
7. A Class A fire involves:
A. Flammable liquids
B. Energized electrical equipment
C. Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth
D. Combustible metals
Answer: C. Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and
cloth
Rationale: Class A materials leave ash. Water is the most
common extinguishing agent.
8. A Class B fire involves:
A. Ordinary combustibles
B. Flammable and combustible liquids and gases
C. Cooking oils and fats
D. Energized electrical equipment
Answer: B. Flammable and combustible liquids and gases
Rationale: Gasoline, oil, and propane are Class B fuels, usually
fought with foam, dry chemical, or CO2.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 3
, 9. A Class C fire involves:
A. Wood and paper
B. Magnesium and titanium
C. Grease in a fryer
D. Energized electrical equipment
Answer: D. Energized electrical equipment
Rationale: Class C fires involve live electricity, so a non-
conductive agent must be used.
10. A Class D fire involves:
A. Combustible metals such as magnesium and sodium
B. Flammable liquids
C. Household trash
D. Electrical wiring
Answer: A. Combustible metals such as magnesium and
sodium
Rationale: Class D fires need special dry powder agents. Water
can react violently with burning metals.
11. A Class K fire involves:
A. Combustible metals
B. Gasoline
C. Cooking oils and animal or vegetable fats
D. Paper and cardboard
Answer: C. Cooking oils and animal or vegetable fats
Rationale: Class K covers commercial kitchen fires and is fought
with wet chemical agents.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 4
Firefighter Exam Questions & Answers
150 Multiple-Choice Practice Questions with Highlighted
Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Fire Behavior and Fire Science
1. Which four elements make up the fire tetrahedron?
A. Heat, fuel, smoke, and water
B. Oxygen, nitrogen, heat, and spark
C. Fuel, wind, heat, and ventilation
D. Heat, fuel, oxygen, and an uninhibited chemical chain
reaction
Answer: D. Heat, fuel, oxygen, and an uninhibited chemical
chain reaction
Rationale: The fire tetrahedron adds the chemical chain reaction
to the three sides of the fire triangle. Removing any one element
stops combustion.
2. Heat transfer through direct contact between solid objects
is called:
A. Conduction
B. Convection
C. Radiation
D. Pyrolysis
Answer: A. Conduction
Rationale: Conduction moves heat through a solid or between
touching objects, such as heat traveling along a metal pipe.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 1
,3. Heat transfer by the movement of heated gases or liquids
is called:
A. Conduction
B. Radiation
C. Convection
D. Direct flame contact
Answer: C. Convection
Rationale: Convection carries heat upward with hot smoke and
gases, which is why fire spreads up stairwells and shafts.
4. Heat that travels as electromagnetic waves, with no direct
contact needed, is called:
A. Conduction
B. Radiation
C. Convection
D. Absorption
Answer: B. Radiation
Rationale: Radiant heat can ignite exposures across a gap, much
like the sun warming your skin.
5. Flashover is best described as:
A. An explosion caused by opening a door
B. The first stage of a fire
C. Flames rolling across the ceiling only
D. The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible
materials in an enclosed area
Answer: D. The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible
materials in an enclosed area
Rationale: Flashover occurs when radiant heat raises room
contents to their ignition temperature at about the same time.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 2
,6. A backdraft occurs when:
A. Oxygen is suddenly introduced into a superheated,
oxygen-depleted space
B. A fire burns out of control in an open field
C. Water is applied to a Class B fire
D. Smoke is vented through the roof
Answer: A. Oxygen is suddenly introduced into a
superheated, oxygen-depleted space
Rationale: Unburned fuel gases in an oxygen-starved
compartment ignite explosively when fresh air arrives.
7. A Class A fire involves:
A. Flammable liquids
B. Energized electrical equipment
C. Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth
D. Combustible metals
Answer: C. Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and
cloth
Rationale: Class A materials leave ash. Water is the most
common extinguishing agent.
8. A Class B fire involves:
A. Ordinary combustibles
B. Flammable and combustible liquids and gases
C. Cooking oils and fats
D. Energized electrical equipment
Answer: B. Flammable and combustible liquids and gases
Rationale: Gasoline, oil, and propane are Class B fuels, usually
fought with foam, dry chemical, or CO2.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 3
, 9. A Class C fire involves:
A. Wood and paper
B. Magnesium and titanium
C. Grease in a fryer
D. Energized electrical equipment
Answer: D. Energized electrical equipment
Rationale: Class C fires involve live electricity, so a non-
conductive agent must be used.
10. A Class D fire involves:
A. Combustible metals such as magnesium and sodium
B. Flammable liquids
C. Household trash
D. Electrical wiring
Answer: A. Combustible metals such as magnesium and
sodium
Rationale: Class D fires need special dry powder agents. Water
can react violently with burning metals.
11. A Class K fire involves:
A. Combustible metals
B. Gasoline
C. Cooking oils and animal or vegetable fats
D. Paper and cardboard
Answer: C. Cooking oils and animal or vegetable fats
Rationale: Class K covers commercial kitchen fires and is fought
with wet chemical agents.
FCTC Written Exam 2026 - Page 4
