S-130 Wildland Hazards and Human
Factors on the Fireline Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
Situational Awareness - Correct Answer✔️✔️-You need to employ the fundamental principle of
situational awareness (SA) while working on an incident. Situational awareness is:
- Gathering information by observation and communication
- The foundation of all the decision making
- An ongoing cycle
Be an active thinker and observer on the fireline. Stop and reevaluate and make careful, informed
decisions—especially when you're tired or unsure.
360 Degree Perspective - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Up:
- Weather and smoke movement (Thunder and Lightning, can be a danger up to 40 miles (64 km)
before cloud, use 30/30 rule: when the interval between a ground flash and the thunder it produces
is less than 30 seconds, take precautions against being struck for at least 30 minutes after the
thundercloud passes.)
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Rocks or burning materials rolling into unburned fuel below
- Overhead power lines
- Aircraft flying overhead and performing airdrops
- Tree limbs weakened by fire and burning or burned-out snags
Down:
- Downed power lines
- Poor footing
- Unseen ditches, holes, or drop-offs
- Snakes and critters
- Fuels that cause changes in fire behavior
- Fire downslope from your position
Around:
- Looking around can alert you to approaching vehicles as well as to changes in the fire's behavior
that might threaten you.
- Also, look around when working on the fireline to be sure there is at least 10 feet (3 m) between
you and other crew members.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Lightning and Thunder Dangers - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Ideally, try to get inside a vehicle or
structure if possible. If that isn't possible, get in the middle of a large clearing and sit (don't lie down)
on your pack or crouch with your feet together—especially if your skin tingles.
During a lightning storm, don't use landline phones and radios with long antennas—use only cell
phones or radios that have short antennas. Then, avoid getting too close to:
- Dry creek beds because of the flash flood potential
- Heavy machinery
- Flammable liquids
- Poles or trees
- Ridge tops
- Ledges
- Wire fences
- Rock outcroppings
- Metal tools
Human Hazards - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Maintaining your SA on the fireline can be challenging for
a number of reasons:
- Inexperience
- Personal and job-related stress
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Factors on the Fireline Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
Situational Awareness - Correct Answer✔️✔️-You need to employ the fundamental principle of
situational awareness (SA) while working on an incident. Situational awareness is:
- Gathering information by observation and communication
- The foundation of all the decision making
- An ongoing cycle
Be an active thinker and observer on the fireline. Stop and reevaluate and make careful, informed
decisions—especially when you're tired or unsure.
360 Degree Perspective - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Up:
- Weather and smoke movement (Thunder and Lightning, can be a danger up to 40 miles (64 km)
before cloud, use 30/30 rule: when the interval between a ground flash and the thunder it produces
is less than 30 seconds, take precautions against being struck for at least 30 minutes after the
thundercloud passes.)
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,- Rocks or burning materials rolling into unburned fuel below
- Overhead power lines
- Aircraft flying overhead and performing airdrops
- Tree limbs weakened by fire and burning or burned-out snags
Down:
- Downed power lines
- Poor footing
- Unseen ditches, holes, or drop-offs
- Snakes and critters
- Fuels that cause changes in fire behavior
- Fire downslope from your position
Around:
- Looking around can alert you to approaching vehicles as well as to changes in the fire's behavior
that might threaten you.
- Also, look around when working on the fireline to be sure there is at least 10 feet (3 m) between
you and other crew members.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Lightning and Thunder Dangers - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Ideally, try to get inside a vehicle or
structure if possible. If that isn't possible, get in the middle of a large clearing and sit (don't lie down)
on your pack or crouch with your feet together—especially if your skin tingles.
During a lightning storm, don't use landline phones and radios with long antennas—use only cell
phones or radios that have short antennas. Then, avoid getting too close to:
- Dry creek beds because of the flash flood potential
- Heavy machinery
- Flammable liquids
- Poles or trees
- Ridge tops
- Ledges
- Wire fences
- Rock outcroppings
- Metal tools
Human Hazards - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Maintaining your SA on the fireline can be challenging for
a number of reasons:
- Inexperience
- Personal and job-related stress
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
