S- 190 WILDLAND FIRE BEHAVIOR EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
2025/2026
1. parts of a fire point of origin, head, flank, rear, perimeter, fingers, pockets, island, spot fire
2. point of origin the start
the precise location where a competent ignition source came into contact with
the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred
usually rear & upwind
3. head of a fire the side of fire having the fastest rate of speed
most intensity
downwind
4. flank of a fire the part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to the main direction of
spread
lower flame, greatest variability
where most fire is fought
5. rear of a fire • that portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or
down slope
• that portion of a fire edge opposite the head
• slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called
heel of a fire
6. fire perimeter the entire outer edge or boundary of a fire
7. fingers of a fire the long narrow extensions of a fire projecting from the main body
from shifting of winds
8. pockets of a fire unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by fingers or slow burning areas
9. island or long ribbons
safety hazard
area of unburned fuel or just got a surface burn inside the fire perimeter
10. spot fire
, Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand
raining embers
11. fire behavior smoldering, creeping, running, spotting, torching, crown, flare up, firewhirl,
terms backing, flaming front,
12. smoldering fire fire burning without flame and barely spreading
13. creeping fire fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly; timber litter or short grass
14. running fire fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
15. spotting fire behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are carried by the wind and
which start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire; snags
produce column of air
16. torching fire the burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the
bottom up
17. crown fire a fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs more or less independent
of a surface fire. crown fires are sometimes classed as running or dependent to
distinguish the degree of independence from the surface fire; mostly in pine,
spruce, gamble oak
18. flare up 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
19. firewhirl 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
20. backing fire
, Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
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
21. flaming front 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.
22. anchor point an advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start
constructing a fireline. the anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being
flanked by the fire while the line is being constructed
near something that won't burn ex. road side mowed field
if no good anchor point, use a J hook
23. control line an inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and treated fire edges
used to contain a fire
mineral soil break
24. fireline the part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil
25. mop-up extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and
trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or
to reduce residual smoke
switch from containing to putting out
26. contained no longer spreading
the status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a
control line has been completed around the fire, and any
associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread
27. controlled
Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
2025/2026
1. parts of a fire point of origin, head, flank, rear, perimeter, fingers, pockets, island, spot fire
2. point of origin the start
the precise location where a competent ignition source came into contact with
the material first ignited and sustained combustion occurred
usually rear & upwind
3. head of a fire the side of fire having the fastest rate of speed
most intensity
downwind
4. flank of a fire the part of a fire's perimeter that is roughly parallel to the main direction of
spread
lower flame, greatest variability
where most fire is fought
5. rear of a fire • that portion of a fire spreading directly into the wind or
down slope
• that portion of a fire edge opposite the head
• slowest spreading portion of a fire edge. Also called
heel of a fire
6. fire perimeter the entire outer edge or boundary of a fire
7. fingers of a fire the long narrow extensions of a fire projecting from the main body
from shifting of winds
8. pockets of a fire unburned indentations in the fire edge formed by fingers or slow burning areas
9. island or long ribbons
safety hazard
area of unburned fuel or just got a surface burn inside the fire perimeter
10. spot fire
, Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by a firebrand
raining embers
11. fire behavior smoldering, creeping, running, spotting, torching, crown, flare up, firewhirl,
terms backing, flaming front,
12. smoldering fire fire burning without flame and barely spreading
13. creeping fire fire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly; timber litter or short grass
14. running fire fire spreading rapidly with a well defined head
15. spotting fire behavior of a fire producing sparks or embers that are carried by the wind and
which start new fires beyond the zone of direct ignition by the main fire; snags
produce column of air
16. torching fire the burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the
bottom up
17. crown fire a fire that advances from top to top of trees or shrubs more or less independent
of a surface fire. crown fires are sometimes classed as running or dependent to
distinguish the degree of independence from the surface fire; mostly in pine,
spruce, gamble oak
18. flare up 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
19. firewhirl 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
20. backing fire
, Wildland Fire S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53reoq
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
21. flaming front 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.
22. anchor point an advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread, from which to start
constructing a fireline. the anchor point is used to minimize the chance of being
flanked by the fire while the line is being constructed
near something that won't burn ex. road side mowed field
if no good anchor point, use a J hook
23. control line an inclusive term for all constructed or natural barriers and treated fire edges
used to contain a fire
mineral soil break
24. fireline the part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil
25. mop-up extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and
trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or
to reduce residual smoke
switch from containing to putting out
26. contained no longer spreading
the status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a
control line has been completed around the fire, and any
associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread
27. controlled
