S-130 Exam Questions with correct
Answers
Origin ANSWERS The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which
the fire spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head ANSWERS The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of
spread (ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming
speed. Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers ANSWERS long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a
fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
Pocket ANSWERS The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter ANSWERS the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside
edge—of the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear ANSWERS or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks ANSWERS The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main
direction of fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are looking
from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands ANSWERS Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover ANSWERS Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier ANSWERS Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs
the spread of wildland fires.
,Contain ANSWERS To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected
to check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
The Green ANSWERS Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color,
adjacent to but not involved in a wildland fire.
The Black ANSWERS Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) ANSWERS Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain ANSWERS A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering ANSWERS Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Creeping ANSWERS Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Running ANSWERS Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing ANSWERS Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or
against the wind
Spotting ANSWERS When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are
carried by winds or a convection column
Torching ANSWERS Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of
trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
Crowning ANSWERS When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more
or less independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up ANSWERS Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the
fire. A flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing
control plans.
Blowups ANSWERS Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to
prevent or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback to
existing suppression plans.
Mop-Up ANSWERS 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.
,Air Tanker ANSWERS Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during
an air attack.
Classification of Fire A-G ANSWERS Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
Class F—1,000 to 4,999.9 acres (405 to 2,024 ha)
Class G—5,000 acres (2,025 ha) or more
Fire Season ANSWERS Period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to occur,
spread, and damage wildland values sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression.
Extended-Attack Fire ANSWERS Situation in which a fire cannot be controlled by
initial-attack resources within a reasonable period of time.
Gear Weight Limitations ANSWERS Total individual gear weight—65 pounds (30
kg)
Web gear weight without water—20 pounds (9 kg)
Personal gear weight—45 pounds (21 kg)
Web Gear ANSWERS Carry various tools in canvas pouches. Remember, your
web gear weight without water is supposed to be 20 pounds or less.
Canteen, Weather kit, Fire shelter, First-aid kit, Fusees, Portable radio and Food
RED Bag (Gear Bag) ANSWERS Use your red bag to sock away extra clothing for
up to 14 days and a lightweight sleeping bag. Remember, your personal gear weight
limit is 45 pounds.
Personal Items ANSWERS Matches (in a waterproof
container),Watch,Pocketknife,Eyeglasses and sunglasses,Water,Rain
gear,Compass,Toilet paper,Spare,boot laces,Bandanas,Flip flops to wear in shower
stalls,Small towel,Small flashlight,Instant hand sanitizer
Scratch Line ANSWERS Unfinished preliminary control line hastily established or
constructed as an emergency measure to check the spread of fire.
Incident Command System (ICS) ANSWERS A standardized on-scene
emergency management concept specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an
integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or
multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Commander (IC) ANSWERS Person in charge of and responsible for the
management of all incident operations.
, Incident Safety Officer (ISO) ANSWERS Member of the command staff
responsible to the incident commander for monitoring and assessing hazardous and
unsafe conditions and developing measures for assessing personnel safety on the
incident.
Unified Command ANSWERS Team effort in the Incident Command System that
allows all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional,
to manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and
strategies.
Span of Control ANSWERS Maximum number of subordinates that can be
effectively supervised; ranges from three to seven individuals or functions, with five
generally established as optimum.
Check IN ANSWERS Process or location used by assigned resources to report in
at an incident.
Incident Action Plan (IAP) ANSWERS Contains objectives reflecting the overall
incident strategy and specific tactical actions for the next operational period
Division/Group Assignment List ANSWERS A list used on the fireground that
identifies resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Resource Tracking ANSWERS A list used on the fireground that identifies
resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Initial Attack ANSWERS Control efforts taken by the resources that are the first to
arrive at an incident.
Control ANSWERS Point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has
been halted and can reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
C-FLOP ANSWERS Command
Finance/Admin
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Command ANSWERS Direct the overall management of the incident. To relieve
the IC of various tasks not directly related to controlling the incident, the IC may appoint
one or more members of a command staff, including:
Safety officer
Liaison officer
Public information officer
Answers
Origin ANSWERS The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which
the fire spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head ANSWERS The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of
spread (ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming
speed. Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers ANSWERS long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a
fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly in light
fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock outcroppings
Pocket ANSWERS The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Perimeter ANSWERS the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside
edge—of the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear ANSWERS or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks ANSWERS The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main
direction of fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are looking
from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands ANSWERS Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover ANSWERS Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier ANSWERS Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs
the spread of wildland fires.
,Contain ANSWERS To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected
to check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
The Green ANSWERS Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color,
adjacent to but not involved in a wildland fire.
The Black ANSWERS Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) ANSWERS Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain ANSWERS A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering ANSWERS Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Creeping ANSWERS Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Running ANSWERS Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing ANSWERS Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or
against the wind
Spotting ANSWERS When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are
carried by winds or a convection column
Torching ANSWERS Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of
trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
Crowning ANSWERS When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more
or less independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up ANSWERS Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the
fire. A flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing
control plans.
Blowups ANSWERS Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to
prevent or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback to
existing suppression plans.
Mop-Up ANSWERS 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.
,Air Tanker ANSWERS Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during
an air attack.
Classification of Fire A-G ANSWERS Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
Class F—1,000 to 4,999.9 acres (405 to 2,024 ha)
Class G—5,000 acres (2,025 ha) or more
Fire Season ANSWERS Period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to occur,
spread, and damage wildland values sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression.
Extended-Attack Fire ANSWERS Situation in which a fire cannot be controlled by
initial-attack resources within a reasonable period of time.
Gear Weight Limitations ANSWERS Total individual gear weight—65 pounds (30
kg)
Web gear weight without water—20 pounds (9 kg)
Personal gear weight—45 pounds (21 kg)
Web Gear ANSWERS Carry various tools in canvas pouches. Remember, your
web gear weight without water is supposed to be 20 pounds or less.
Canteen, Weather kit, Fire shelter, First-aid kit, Fusees, Portable radio and Food
RED Bag (Gear Bag) ANSWERS Use your red bag to sock away extra clothing for
up to 14 days and a lightweight sleeping bag. Remember, your personal gear weight
limit is 45 pounds.
Personal Items ANSWERS Matches (in a waterproof
container),Watch,Pocketknife,Eyeglasses and sunglasses,Water,Rain
gear,Compass,Toilet paper,Spare,boot laces,Bandanas,Flip flops to wear in shower
stalls,Small towel,Small flashlight,Instant hand sanitizer
Scratch Line ANSWERS Unfinished preliminary control line hastily established or
constructed as an emergency measure to check the spread of fire.
Incident Command System (ICS) ANSWERS A standardized on-scene
emergency management concept specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an
integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or
multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Commander (IC) ANSWERS Person in charge of and responsible for the
management of all incident operations.
, Incident Safety Officer (ISO) ANSWERS Member of the command staff
responsible to the incident commander for monitoring and assessing hazardous and
unsafe conditions and developing measures for assessing personnel safety on the
incident.
Unified Command ANSWERS Team effort in the Incident Command System that
allows all agencies with responsibility for the incident, either geographical or functional,
to manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and
strategies.
Span of Control ANSWERS Maximum number of subordinates that can be
effectively supervised; ranges from three to seven individuals or functions, with five
generally established as optimum.
Check IN ANSWERS Process or location used by assigned resources to report in
at an incident.
Incident Action Plan (IAP) ANSWERS Contains objectives reflecting the overall
incident strategy and specific tactical actions for the next operational period
Division/Group Assignment List ANSWERS A list used on the fireground that
identifies resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Resource Tracking ANSWERS A list used on the fireground that identifies
resources with active assignments in the Operations section.
Initial Attack ANSWERS Control efforts taken by the resources that are the first to
arrive at an incident.
Control ANSWERS Point in time when the perimeter spread of a wildland fire has
been halted and can reasonably be expected to hold under foreseeable conditions.
C-FLOP ANSWERS Command
Finance/Admin
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Command ANSWERS Direct the overall management of the incident. To relieve
the IC of various tasks not directly related to controlling the incident, the IC may appoint
one or more members of a command staff, including:
Safety officer
Liaison officer
Public information officer
