S130 ENR 3335.02 exam with correct
answers
Origin
The location where the fire started
Head
The hottest and most active part of the fire. Shows the direction in which the fire is
burning
Flank
May have active fire, but not as hot as the head of the fire. Parallel to the main direction
of spread
Rear/heel
Opposite the head of the fire and burning less vigorously, if at all. Often near the fire
origin.
Perimeter
Boundary line of the fire. May not have active fire on some portions.
,Finger
A narrow strip that burns away from the main part of the fire. Can be dangerous if fire
personnel are flanked by a finger.
Pocket
The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Island
Area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter
Spot fire
Burning area outside the main fire perimeter, often caused by wind blown embers or
rolling debris.
Spread
Movement of the fire. Rate of spread (ROS) is given in chains per hour.
Smoldering
Fire burning without flame and barely spreading
, Creeping
Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running
fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Backing
Fire moving away from the head, downhill, or against the wind
Spotting
Sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried by winds or convection column.
Torching, candling, passive crown fire
Fire burning on the surface, but periodically igniting the crown of a single or small group
of trees before returning to the surface.
Crowning
High fire intensity and forward ROS.
"Active/running/continuous": crowning remains dependent on heat from surface fires
"Independent": fire burns canopy fuels without aid of surface fire
answers
Origin
The location where the fire started
Head
The hottest and most active part of the fire. Shows the direction in which the fire is
burning
Flank
May have active fire, but not as hot as the head of the fire. Parallel to the main direction
of spread
Rear/heel
Opposite the head of the fire and burning less vigorously, if at all. Often near the fire
origin.
Perimeter
Boundary line of the fire. May not have active fire on some portions.
,Finger
A narrow strip that burns away from the main part of the fire. Can be dangerous if fire
personnel are flanked by a finger.
The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Island
Area of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter
Spot fire
Burning area outside the main fire perimeter, often caused by wind blown embers or
rolling debris.
Spread
Movement of the fire. Rate of spread (ROS) is given in chains per hour.
Smoldering
Fire burning without flame and barely spreading
, Creeping
Fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running
fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
Backing
Fire moving away from the head, downhill, or against the wind
Spotting
Sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried by winds or convection column.
Torching, candling, passive crown fire
Fire burning on the surface, but periodically igniting the crown of a single or small group
of trees before returning to the surface.
Crowning
High fire intensity and forward ROS.
"Active/running/continuous": crowning remains dependent on heat from surface fires
"Independent": fire burns canopy fuels without aid of surface fire
