TEXAS URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE
(USAR) SPECIALIST – PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The primary mission of a USAR team is to:
A. Control hazardous materials
B. Restore utilities
C. Locate, stabilize, and extricate victims from collapsed
structures
D. Provide long-term medical care
USAR operations focus on rescuing trapped victims in
structural collapse environments.
2. Which phase of USAR operations includes shoring and
stabilization?
A. Size-up
B. Search
C. Rescue
D. Demobilization
,Stabilization and shoring occur during rescue to protect victims
and rescuers.
3. The first consideration upon arrival at a collapse scene is:
A. Tool selection
B. Victim removal
C. Scene size-up and safety
D. Structural breaching
Scene size-up identifies hazards and establishes safe
operations.
4. Which collapse pattern creates survivable voids?
A. Lean-to collapse
B. Pancake collapse
C. Lean-to collapse
D. V-shaped collapse
Lean-to collapses create void spaces where victims may
survive.
5. The Incident Command System (ICS) is designed to:
A. Limit responder authority
B. Provide standardized, scalable command structure
,C. Replace local leadership
D. Prioritize federal control
ICS supports coordinated, flexible incident management.
6. Who has overall authority at a USAR incident?
A. Operations Section Chief
B. Rescue Group Supervisor
C. Incident Commander
D. Safety Officer
The Incident Commander has ultimate responsibility for the
scene.
7. Which tool is BEST for cutting reinforced concrete?
A. Bolt cutters
B. Rotary saw with diamond blade
C. Axe
D. Chainsaw
Diamond blades are required for reinforced concrete cutting.
8. Secondary collapse refers to:
, A. Complete structure failure
B. Planned demolition
C. Additional collapse caused by rescue activities
D. Weather damage
Rescue actions can trigger further structural failure if not
controlled.
9. The safest search method inside a structure is:
A. Rapid sweep
B. Right-hand or left-hand search pattern
C. Random search
D. Vertical-only search
Systematic wall-based searches prevent disorientation.
10. Which marking system identifies victim location after
rescue?
A. FEMA Structural Triage
B. Victim location marking system
C. Hazard marking system
D. Accountability tag
Victim location markings communicate findings to all teams.
(USAR) SPECIALIST – PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The primary mission of a USAR team is to:
A. Control hazardous materials
B. Restore utilities
C. Locate, stabilize, and extricate victims from collapsed
structures
D. Provide long-term medical care
USAR operations focus on rescuing trapped victims in
structural collapse environments.
2. Which phase of USAR operations includes shoring and
stabilization?
A. Size-up
B. Search
C. Rescue
D. Demobilization
,Stabilization and shoring occur during rescue to protect victims
and rescuers.
3. The first consideration upon arrival at a collapse scene is:
A. Tool selection
B. Victim removal
C. Scene size-up and safety
D. Structural breaching
Scene size-up identifies hazards and establishes safe
operations.
4. Which collapse pattern creates survivable voids?
A. Lean-to collapse
B. Pancake collapse
C. Lean-to collapse
D. V-shaped collapse
Lean-to collapses create void spaces where victims may
survive.
5. The Incident Command System (ICS) is designed to:
A. Limit responder authority
B. Provide standardized, scalable command structure
,C. Replace local leadership
D. Prioritize federal control
ICS supports coordinated, flexible incident management.
6. Who has overall authority at a USAR incident?
A. Operations Section Chief
B. Rescue Group Supervisor
C. Incident Commander
D. Safety Officer
The Incident Commander has ultimate responsibility for the
scene.
7. Which tool is BEST for cutting reinforced concrete?
A. Bolt cutters
B. Rotary saw with diamond blade
C. Axe
D. Chainsaw
Diamond blades are required for reinforced concrete cutting.
8. Secondary collapse refers to:
, A. Complete structure failure
B. Planned demolition
C. Additional collapse caused by rescue activities
D. Weather damage
Rescue actions can trigger further structural failure if not
controlled.
9. The safest search method inside a structure is:
A. Rapid sweep
B. Right-hand or left-hand search pattern
C. Random search
D. Vertical-only search
Systematic wall-based searches prevent disorientation.
10. Which marking system identifies victim location after
rescue?
A. FEMA Structural Triage
B. Victim location marking system
C. Hazard marking system
D. Accountability tag
Victim location markings communicate findings to all teams.
