Wildland Firefighter Test Questions With
Correct Answers
What percentage of the atmosphere is oxygen? about 21%
What is solar radiation? energy from the sun
Of all various weather conditions what is the most important one? Wind
What is a lapse rate? the rate at which air temperature falls with increasing altitude.
What is the normal lapse rate for every thousand feet of elevation change? 3.5 degrees
What is an inversion layer? A layer of very stable air where the temperature rises as the
altitude increases
On a calm day, why will a column of smoke stop rising and flatten out? The inversion
layer
What is orographic lifting? occurs when an air mass that is moving horizontally
encounters a mountain range and is force upward
, What is slope reversal and why is it dangerous? When a fire burns and changes the slope,
leading to a change in rate of spread
What can happen when fighting fire on a south facing slope It burns hotter in the
afternoon
How can a canyon impact your fire It can lead to increases in potential for preheating,
spotting, and ignition
Why is it easier to light finer fuels and logs Less heat to ignite
What is dead fuel moisture Moisture content in fuel that is dead, influenced by relative
humidity temperature and wind
What are the critical topographic features? Elevation, Position Of Slope, Aspect, Shape of
Terrain, Steepness of slop
What is spotting and why is it so dangerous? Fire is spread to unburnt fuel and starts
secondary fire
What is Torching? Fire burns on the surface, but periodically ignites a crown of a single or
a small group trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
Correct Answers
What percentage of the atmosphere is oxygen? about 21%
What is solar radiation? energy from the sun
Of all various weather conditions what is the most important one? Wind
What is a lapse rate? the rate at which air temperature falls with increasing altitude.
What is the normal lapse rate for every thousand feet of elevation change? 3.5 degrees
What is an inversion layer? A layer of very stable air where the temperature rises as the
altitude increases
On a calm day, why will a column of smoke stop rising and flatten out? The inversion
layer
What is orographic lifting? occurs when an air mass that is moving horizontally
encounters a mountain range and is force upward
, What is slope reversal and why is it dangerous? When a fire burns and changes the slope,
leading to a change in rate of spread
What can happen when fighting fire on a south facing slope It burns hotter in the
afternoon
How can a canyon impact your fire It can lead to increases in potential for preheating,
spotting, and ignition
Why is it easier to light finer fuels and logs Less heat to ignite
What is dead fuel moisture Moisture content in fuel that is dead, influenced by relative
humidity temperature and wind
What are the critical topographic features? Elevation, Position Of Slope, Aspect, Shape of
Terrain, Steepness of slop
What is spotting and why is it so dangerous? Fire is spread to unburnt fuel and starts
secondary fire
What is Torching? Fire burns on the surface, but periodically ignites a crown of a single or
a small group trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
