FAE CORE EXAMS SET 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔LEADERS INTENT - ✔✔Leader's Intent
In addition, all leaders of firefighters have the responsibility to provide complete
briefings and ensure that their subordinates have a clear understanding of their intent
for the assignment:
• Task =
• Purpose =
• End State =
What is to be done
Why it is to be done
How it should look when done
✔✔Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires - ✔✔1. On relatively
small fires or deceptively quiet areas of large fires.
2. In relatively light fuels, such as grass, herbs, and light brush.
3. When there is an unexpected shift in wind direction or in wind speed.
4. When fire responds to topographic conditions and runs uphill.
Alignment of topography and wind during the Burning Period should be considered a
trigger point to re-evaluate tactics.
✔✔LAST RESORT SURVIVAL - ✔✔*Escape if you can
*Find a survivable area
*Pick a fire shelter deployment site
*Expect
✔✔Last Resort Survival 4/4 - ✔✔Expect
• Extremely heavy ember showers.
• Superheated air blast to hit before the flame front hits.
• Noise and turbulent powerful winds hitting the fire shelter.
• Heat and fire glow inside the fire shelter.
• Long deployment times...WHEN IN DOUBT WAIT IT OUT.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 1/4 - ✔✔Escape if you can
• Utilize all your PPE and act immediately on your best option.
• Drop your gear (keep your fire shelter, hand tool, quart of water, and radio).
• You may be able to use the fire shelter for a heat shield as you move.
• In LIGHT FUELS, you may be able to move through the flames into the black.
• If you are on the flank of the fire, try to get below the fire.
• Consider vehicles or helicopters for escape.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 2/4 - ✔✔Find a survivable area
• Stay out of hazardous terrain features.
• Use bodies of water that are more than 2 feet
,deep.
• In LIGHT FUELS, you may be able to light an
escape fire. In other fuels, you may be able to
light a backfire.
• Call for helicopter or retardant drops.
• Cut and scatter fuels if there is time.
• Use any available heat barriers such as large
rocks and dozer berms.
• Consider vehicle traffic hazards on roads.
• Structures and vehicles may be an option for
temporary refuge.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 3/4 - ✔✔Pick a fire shelter deployment site
• Find the lowest point available.
• Maximize distance from nearest aerial fuels, heavy fuels, and snags.
• Pick a surface that allows the fire shelter to seal and remove ground fuels.
• Get into the fires shelter before the flame front hits.
• Position your feet toward the fire and hold down the fire shelter.
• Keep your face pressed into the ground and protect your airway.
• Deploy next to each other and keep talking.
✔✔Aerial Retardant Safety - ✔✔Clear personnel out of target area prior to drops. If you
can't escape:
• Hold your hand tool away from your body.
• Lie face down with head toward oncoming aircraft and hardhat in place. Grasp
something firm to prevent being carried or rolled about by the dropped liquid.
• Do not run unless escape is assured.
• Get clear of dead snags, tops, and limbs in drop area.
• Working in an area covered by wet retardant should be done with caution due to
slippery surfaces.
✔✔Directing Retardant and Bucket Drops - ✔✔• Give general location on incident to
aerial
resource - division/head/heel/flank.
• Finalize location with:
- Clock position from pilot's perspective (see IRPG front cover).
- Description of prominent landmarks.
- Target position on slope - lower 1/3, upper
1/3, mid-slope, top of ridge, etc.
- Utilize signal mirrors whenever possible.
- Utilize panels or flagging to mark target as
needed.
• Describe target from your location and explain mission. The pilot will decide drop
technique and flight path.
• Know the pilot's intentions prior to the drop. Clear the area to avoid direct flights over
ground personnel and equipment.
, • Give feedback to pilot about drop accuracy. Be honest and constructive. Let pilot know
if drop is early, late, uphill, downhill, on target, too high, too low, etc. Report low drops
immediately.
✔✔Minimum retardant drop heights - ✔✔SEAT = 60 ft. AGL
- Super Scooper (CL 215/415) = 100 ft. AGL
- LAT = 150 ft. AGL
- VLAT = 300 ft. AGL
✔✔AIR CRAFT ABRIVATIONS - ✔✔SEAT = Single Engine Airtanker = 800 gallons
LAT = Large Air Tanker = 1800-3000 gallons (P2, SP2H, P3, DC7, C130)
VLAT = Very Large Air Tanker (DC10, 747) AGL = Above Ground Level
✔✔WHAT AIRCRAFT IS USED FOR AA - ✔✔OV-10A "Bronco"
North American-Rockwell, Columbus, Ohio.
Cruise Speed: 258 mph
✔✔WHAT HELICOPTER DOES CAL FIRE USE & WHAT TYPE ARE THEY . - ✔✔UH-
1H "Super Huey
Bell Helicopters, Fort Worth, Texas
Crew :Pilot , two Fire Captains eight Firefighters
Cruise Speed: 125 mph
Gallon Capacity: 360 plus -- 324/bucket
✔✔WHAT AIR TANKERS ARE USED BY CAL FIRE - ✔✔Grumman S-2T
Type III Air tanker
✔✔SPOT WEATHER FORECAST (NEEDED INFO ) - ✔✔Name and type of incident
(wildland fire, prescribed fire, HazMat, SAR)
• Location by latitude/longitude or by 1⁄4 section
• Incident size
• Elevation (at top and bottom of incident)
• Fuel type
• Sheltering (full, partial, unsheltered)
• Fire character (ground fire, crowning, spotting, etc.)
✔✔WHEN IS A SPOT WEATHER FORECAST NEEDED - ✔✔*Spot weather forecasts
should always be requested for fires that have the potential for active fire behavior,
exceed initial attack, or are located in areas where Red Flag Warnings have been
issued.
*In addition, personnel should consider requesting a spot weather forecast for non-fire
incidents including HazMat or search and rescue activities.
ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔LEADERS INTENT - ✔✔Leader's Intent
In addition, all leaders of firefighters have the responsibility to provide complete
briefings and ensure that their subordinates have a clear understanding of their intent
for the assignment:
• Task =
• Purpose =
• End State =
What is to be done
Why it is to be done
How it should look when done
✔✔Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires - ✔✔1. On relatively
small fires or deceptively quiet areas of large fires.
2. In relatively light fuels, such as grass, herbs, and light brush.
3. When there is an unexpected shift in wind direction or in wind speed.
4. When fire responds to topographic conditions and runs uphill.
Alignment of topography and wind during the Burning Period should be considered a
trigger point to re-evaluate tactics.
✔✔LAST RESORT SURVIVAL - ✔✔*Escape if you can
*Find a survivable area
*Pick a fire shelter deployment site
*Expect
✔✔Last Resort Survival 4/4 - ✔✔Expect
• Extremely heavy ember showers.
• Superheated air blast to hit before the flame front hits.
• Noise and turbulent powerful winds hitting the fire shelter.
• Heat and fire glow inside the fire shelter.
• Long deployment times...WHEN IN DOUBT WAIT IT OUT.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 1/4 - ✔✔Escape if you can
• Utilize all your PPE and act immediately on your best option.
• Drop your gear (keep your fire shelter, hand tool, quart of water, and radio).
• You may be able to use the fire shelter for a heat shield as you move.
• In LIGHT FUELS, you may be able to move through the flames into the black.
• If you are on the flank of the fire, try to get below the fire.
• Consider vehicles or helicopters for escape.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 2/4 - ✔✔Find a survivable area
• Stay out of hazardous terrain features.
• Use bodies of water that are more than 2 feet
,deep.
• In LIGHT FUELS, you may be able to light an
escape fire. In other fuels, you may be able to
light a backfire.
• Call for helicopter or retardant drops.
• Cut and scatter fuels if there is time.
• Use any available heat barriers such as large
rocks and dozer berms.
• Consider vehicle traffic hazards on roads.
• Structures and vehicles may be an option for
temporary refuge.
✔✔Last Resort Survival 3/4 - ✔✔Pick a fire shelter deployment site
• Find the lowest point available.
• Maximize distance from nearest aerial fuels, heavy fuels, and snags.
• Pick a surface that allows the fire shelter to seal and remove ground fuels.
• Get into the fires shelter before the flame front hits.
• Position your feet toward the fire and hold down the fire shelter.
• Keep your face pressed into the ground and protect your airway.
• Deploy next to each other and keep talking.
✔✔Aerial Retardant Safety - ✔✔Clear personnel out of target area prior to drops. If you
can't escape:
• Hold your hand tool away from your body.
• Lie face down with head toward oncoming aircraft and hardhat in place. Grasp
something firm to prevent being carried or rolled about by the dropped liquid.
• Do not run unless escape is assured.
• Get clear of dead snags, tops, and limbs in drop area.
• Working in an area covered by wet retardant should be done with caution due to
slippery surfaces.
✔✔Directing Retardant and Bucket Drops - ✔✔• Give general location on incident to
aerial
resource - division/head/heel/flank.
• Finalize location with:
- Clock position from pilot's perspective (see IRPG front cover).
- Description of prominent landmarks.
- Target position on slope - lower 1/3, upper
1/3, mid-slope, top of ridge, etc.
- Utilize signal mirrors whenever possible.
- Utilize panels or flagging to mark target as
needed.
• Describe target from your location and explain mission. The pilot will decide drop
technique and flight path.
• Know the pilot's intentions prior to the drop. Clear the area to avoid direct flights over
ground personnel and equipment.
, • Give feedback to pilot about drop accuracy. Be honest and constructive. Let pilot know
if drop is early, late, uphill, downhill, on target, too high, too low, etc. Report low drops
immediately.
✔✔Minimum retardant drop heights - ✔✔SEAT = 60 ft. AGL
- Super Scooper (CL 215/415) = 100 ft. AGL
- LAT = 150 ft. AGL
- VLAT = 300 ft. AGL
✔✔AIR CRAFT ABRIVATIONS - ✔✔SEAT = Single Engine Airtanker = 800 gallons
LAT = Large Air Tanker = 1800-3000 gallons (P2, SP2H, P3, DC7, C130)
VLAT = Very Large Air Tanker (DC10, 747) AGL = Above Ground Level
✔✔WHAT AIRCRAFT IS USED FOR AA - ✔✔OV-10A "Bronco"
North American-Rockwell, Columbus, Ohio.
Cruise Speed: 258 mph
✔✔WHAT HELICOPTER DOES CAL FIRE USE & WHAT TYPE ARE THEY . - ✔✔UH-
1H "Super Huey
Bell Helicopters, Fort Worth, Texas
Crew :Pilot , two Fire Captains eight Firefighters
Cruise Speed: 125 mph
Gallon Capacity: 360 plus -- 324/bucket
✔✔WHAT AIR TANKERS ARE USED BY CAL FIRE - ✔✔Grumman S-2T
Type III Air tanker
✔✔SPOT WEATHER FORECAST (NEEDED INFO ) - ✔✔Name and type of incident
(wildland fire, prescribed fire, HazMat, SAR)
• Location by latitude/longitude or by 1⁄4 section
• Incident size
• Elevation (at top and bottom of incident)
• Fuel type
• Sheltering (full, partial, unsheltered)
• Fire character (ground fire, crowning, spotting, etc.)
✔✔WHEN IS A SPOT WEATHER FORECAST NEEDED - ✔✔*Spot weather forecasts
should always be requested for fires that have the potential for active fire behavior,
exceed initial attack, or are located in areas where Red Flag Warnings have been
issued.
*In addition, personnel should consider requesting a spot weather forecast for non-fire
incidents including HazMat or search and rescue activities.
