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TCFP WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER BASIC
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2025
- What is the primary purpose of a fireline in wildland firefighting? A. To direct smoke away from homes B. To create a safe zone for helicopter landings C. To remove vegetation and stop fire spread D. To conduct backfiring operations Creating a fireline removes fuel from the fire’s path, stopping its spread.
- Which tool is commonly used to dig soil and scrape vegetation? A. Fire axe B. Chainsaw C. Pulaski D. Pike pole The Pulaski combines an axe and a grub hoe, making it ideal for cutting roots and scraping soil.
- The safety zone must be: A. Near the origin of the fire B. In an area with tall grass for visibility C. A location where a firefighter can survive without a fire shelter D. Located near the fire’s head A safety zone is a predetermined area large enough to protect firefighters without the need for fire shelters.
- What does LCES stand for in wildland firefighting? A. Light, Cover, Escape, Safety B. Location, Chain of Command, Emergency, Strategy C. Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones D. Logistics, Control, Evacuation, Safety LCES is a safety system used to prevent firefighter entrapment and ensure operational readiness.
- Which fuel type burns the fastest in a wildland setting? A. Logs B. Live trees C. Grass D. Wet leaves Fine fuels like grass have high surface-area-to-volume ratios and ignite quickly.
- The “head” of the fire refers to: A. The rear of the fire B. The fastest-moving front of the fire
10.Which agency typically leads wildland fire suppression efforts in federal land? A. FEMA B. U.S. Forest Service C. Red Cross D. Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Forest Service is the primary federal agency responsible for managing wildland fire on public lands. 11.What is the primary danger of a snag in a wildland fire area? A. Loss of visibility B. Damage to equipment C. Falling hazard to firefighters D. Fire spread Snags are dead or damaged trees that can fall without warning and are a serious threat to personnel. 12.What is the term for fire moving against the wind or downhill? A. Head fire B. Backing fire C. Flanking fire D. Spot fire Backing fires move slowly into the wind or downslope and are typically less intense.
13.What is the main use of a drip torch? A. Lighting smoke grenades B. Conducting controlled burns and firing operations C. Igniting fire shelters D. Creating backfires with explosives Drip torches are used to apply fire in a controlled manner for suppression or prescribed burns. 14.Which is considered a hazardous communication (hazmat) color code on NFPA 704 for health? A. Blue B. Red C. Blue D. Yellow Blue indicates health hazards in the NFPA 704 system. 15.Which weather condition contributes the MOST to extreme fire behavior? A. High humidity B. Strong winds C. Cloudy skies D. Heavy rain Strong winds increase oxygen supply and carry embers, leading to rapid fire spread. 16.What does a Red Flag Warning indicate? A. Chemical hazard present B. Weather conditions favorable for wildfires
20.What is the best clothing for wildland firefighting? A. Cotton T-shirt and jeans B. Flame-resistant shirt and pants C. Nylon jumpsuit D. Wool sweater and pants Flame-resistant gear protects against heat and burns better than everyday clothing. 21.What is the purpose of an anchor point? A. Aerial attack coordination B. Fire shelter location C. A safe starting point for line construction D. Escape route An anchor point ensures fireline integrity by preventing fire from flanking behind you. 22.Spot fires are caused by: A. Ground heat transfer B. Embers carried by wind igniting fuels outside main fire area C. High humidity D. Snag collapse Embers can ignite fires ahead of the main fire front, called spot fires. 23.A Type 1 Incident Management Team is used for: A. Volunteer training B. Urban fires C. The most complex, large-scale wildland fires
D. Prescribed burns only Type 1 teams handle the largest and most resource-intensive wildland incidents. 24.What does the term “watch out situation” refer to? A. An equipment malfunction B. A scenario that increases the risk to firefighters C. The end of shift D. A backup plan There are 18 Watch Out Situations that highlight potentially dangerous fireline conditions. 25.In the Incident Command System (ICS), who is responsible for all incident activities? A. Logistics Chief B. Incident Commander C. Operations Chief D. Safety Officer The Incident Commander has overall responsibility for incident management. 26.What is the main purpose of a weather briefing before a wildland assignment? A. Equipment checklist B. To predict fire behavior and plan safety accordingly C. To announce team leaders
30.What causes convection in wildland fires? A. Water evaporation B. Soil temperature C. Rising hot air and gases D. Static electricity Convection is the vertical transfer of heat and gases, which can carry embers high into the air. 31.What is the “green” in wildland terms? A. Wetlands B. Unburned vegetation C. Moss-covered rock D. Tree canopy The “green” refers to vegetation that hasn’t burned yet and can fuel the fire’s spread. 32.What kind of map is most useful in tracking a fire's progression? A. Political map B. Topographic map C. Weather map D. Tourist map Topographic maps show terrain, slope, and features crucial to understanding fire spread. 33.The acronym “RH” stands for: A. Regional Hazard B. Relative Humidity
C. Radiant Heat D. Rescue Helicopter Relative humidity impacts fuel moisture and fire ignition potential. 34.Which position is responsible for tracking resources during a fire incident? A. Safety Officer B. Logistics Section Chief C. Operations Chief D. Public Information Officer Logistics ensures personnel and equipment are tracked and supported effectively. 35.A “fusee” is a: A. Portable water tank B. Ignition device similar to a flare C. GPS unit D. Thermal sensor Fusees are handheld ignition tools used to start fires during suppression efforts. 36.What slope direction typically receives the most solar heating in the Northern Hemisphere? A. West B. East C. South D. North South-facing slopes receive the most sun and often have drier fuels.
D. During mop-up Fire shelters are only used when no escape is possible and death is imminent without protection. 41.Which of the following is NOT part of PPE for wildland firefighting? A. Leather boots B. Synthetic base layers C. Helmet D. Goggles Synthetic clothing melts and can cause severe burns, making it unsafe. 42.What does “spot weather forecast” provide? A. National weather for all regions B. Specific weather conditions for a localized fire area C. Temperature of nearby cities D. Road conditions Spot forecasts help firefighters anticipate fire behavior in a specific area. 43.What does “mop-up” mean in wildland terms? A. Drying the area B. Repairing damaged homes C. Extinguishing remaining heat sources and securing the fire edge D. Packing equipment Mop-up involves ensuring all embers and hot spots are extinguished to prevent reignition. 44.What is the primary concern in the wildland-urban interface (WUI)? A. River contamination
B. Fire threatening homes and structures C. Farming damage D. Wildlife relocation The WUI presents challenges where vegetation meets human development, increasing fire risks. 45.Which of the following best describes “chain of command”? A. Order of arrival B. Seniority by age C. Hierarchical structure of authority D. Equipment distribution ICS uses a clear chain of command to maintain order and communication. 46.How often should firefighters review their escape routes? A. Once per shift B. Every other day C. Continuously, as fire behavior changes D. After meals Escape routes must be reassessed frequently due to changing fire conditions. 47.The proper spacing between crew members is often called: A. Pack distance B. Tactical buffer C. Tool spacing D. Flight line
B. Allow to air cool away from flammables C. Dunk it in water D. Wrap it in cloth Letting tools air cool prevents warping and reduces risk of heat transfer burns or fire ignition. 52.What is the role of the Safety Officer in ICS? A. Record disciplinary issues B. Assign tactical operations C. Monitor conditions and correct unsafe actions D. Manage equipment repair The Safety Officer ensures all operations are performed without undue hazard. 53.What fuel arrangement burns most readily? A. Moist logs B. Standing green trees C. Fine, dry grasses D. Wet soil Fine fuels like dry grasses ignite easily and spread fire quickly. 54.What type of fire attack is conducted from a distance with aerial resources? A. Direct B. Indirect C. Flank D. Parallel
Indirect attack uses tools like air drops to cool and slow the fire before crews engage. 55.How often should a firefighter inspect their PPE? A. Annually B. Before every shift C. Once a month D. After each fire season Regular PPE inspections ensure readiness and identify damage early. 56.When should you refuse risk on a fireline? A. When weather is clear B. When a task seems hard C. When an assignment compromises safety D. When resources are scarce Firefighters are empowered to refuse assignments that violate safety standards. 57.What is the main concern with using chainsaws in wildland firefighting? A. Price B. Chain tension C. Safety, kickback, and fire ignition from sparks D. Color of bar oil Chainsaws pose fire ignition and injury risks if misused or poorly maintained. 58.Which fuel characteristic is most affected by relative humidity? A. Size
Hotshots are elite wildland crews trained for rugged and high-risk suppression tasks. 62.What should always be considered before firing operations? A. Fire history B. Weather, fuel, and topography C. Number of engines on scene D. Size of hotshot crew These factors determine fire behavior and safety during intentional ignitions. 63.What does a lookout do? A. Tracks meals and breaks B. Guides bulldozers C. Observes fire behavior and warns crew of danger D. Marks safety zones Lookouts play a vital role in the LCES safety system by providing early warnings. 64.What defines a “burnout” in fire suppression? A. Re-lighting burned areas B. A controlled fire inside the fireline to remove fuel C. Exhaustion of firefighters D. Destruction of property Burnouts strengthen control lines by removing unburned fuel in a controlled way.
65.What is the fire triangle composed of? A. Smoke, fuel, weather B. Time, tools, terrain C. Heat, fuel, oxygen D. Wind, humidity, slope These three elements are necessary for combustion; removing one extinguishes the fire. 66.Why is slope a critical factor in fire behavior? A. Fires can’t burn downhill B. Fires travel faster uphill due to preheating C. It blocks wind D. It cools fuels Slope angles preheat fuels upslope, increasing the fire’s rate of spread. 67.Which of the following best describes “creeping fire”? A. Fast crown fire B. Slow, low-flame fire burning along the ground C. Fire behind control lines D. Ignition failure Creeping fires burn slowly and with low intensity, usually in low fuels. 68.What is a Class A foam used for? A. Electrical fires B. Suppressing wildland fires in organic fuels C. Cooking oil fires
