I.

SCOPE OF THE EXAMINATION

General
Ability
(25%)

: Verbal, Analytical, Numerical

Specialized
Area (75%)

Fire Suppression (30%)

Pre-Fire Planning
Firefighting Techniques and Procedures
Tools and Equipment and Apparatus
Fire Safety and Prevention (20%)
Fire Code of the Philippines
Fire Safety Related Codes, NFPA Laws and other BFP issuances (Building Code, Electrical Code)
BFP Citizens Charter, SOP/MCs on Fire Safety Inspection
Fire Investigation (15%)
The Law on Arson in the Philippines (RPC)
Constitutional Rights of the Accused
Prima Facie Evidence of Arson
Rules of Court
Procedure and Techniques
Identification, Preservation and Handling of Evidence

Other Related Procedure and Techniques

SOPs on Fire and Arson Investigation
Administrative Matters (10%)
RA 6975 and its IRR
RA 9263 and its IRR
RA 9592 and its IRR
CSC Rules and Regulations and Qualification Standards
BFP Memo Circulars and SOPs on Administrative Matters

Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment.
Firefighting is a highly technical skill that requires professionals who have spent years training in both general firefighting techniques and
specialized areas of expertise.

Firefighters' duties[edit]
Firefighters' goals are to save lives, property and the environment. A fire can rapidly spread and endanger many lives; however, with modern
firefighting techniques, catastrophe is usually, but not always, avoided. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter's duties can include public
education about fire safety and conducting fire inspections of locations for their adherence to local fire codes.
Because firefighters are often the first responders to people in critical conditions, firefighters may provide many other valuable services to the
community they serve, such as:

Emergency medical services, as technicians or as licensed paramedics, staffing ambulances;

Hazardous materials mitigation (HAZMAT);

Vehicle rescue/extrication;

Search and rescue;

Community disaster support.

Fire risk assessments

Additionally, firefighters may also provide service in specialized fields, such as:

Aircraft/airport rescue;

Wildland fire suppression;

Shipboard and military fire and rescue;

Tactical paramedic support ("SWAT medics");

Tool hoisting;

High angle rope rescue;

Swiftwater rescue.

Trench rescue

Confined space rescue

Building collapse

Cold water rescue

------------------------------------------RESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1744

AMENDING ARTICLE THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE PROVISIONS ON ARSON

WHEREAS, there have been rampant and wanton burnings of residential houses, public buildings, markets, hotels and other commercial
establishments;
WHEREAS, to effectively discourage and deter the commission of arson, and to prevent destruction of properties and protect the lives of
innocent people, it is necessary that the capital punishment be imposed upon arsonists;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby order and decree that Article 320, Revised Penal Code be amended:
Sec. 1. Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code shall read as follows:
Art. 320. Destructive Arson. The penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death shall be imposed upon any person who
shall burn:
1. One (1) or more buildings or edifices, consequent to one single act of burning or as a result of simultaneous burnings, or committed on
several or different occasions;
2. Any building of public or private ownership, devoted to the public in general or where people usually gather or congregate for a definite
purpose such as but not limited to official governmental function or business, private transaction, commerce, trade workshop, meetings
and conferences, or merely incidental to a definite purpose such as but not limited to hotels, motels, transient dwellings, public
conveyance or stops or terminals, regardless of whether the offender had knowledge that there are persons in said building or edifice at
the time it is set on fire and regardless also of whether the building is actually inhabited or not.
3. Any train or locomotive, ship or vessel, airship or airplane, devoted to transportation or conveyance, or for public use, entertainment or
leisure.
4. Any building, factory, warehouse installation and any appurtenances thereto, which are devoted to the service of public utilities.
5. Any building the burning of which is for the purpose of concealing ordestroying evidence of another violation of law, or for the purpose
of concealing bankruptcy or defrauding creditors or to collect from insurance.
Irrespective of the application of the above enumerated qualifying circumstances, the penalty of death shall likewise be imposed when the
arson is perpetrated or committed by two (2) or more persons or by a group of persons, regardless of whether their purpose is merely to
burn or destroy the building or the burning merely constitutes an overt act in the commission or another violation of law.

The penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death shall also be imposed upon any person who shall burn:
1. Any arsenal, shipyard, storehouse or military powder or fireworks factory, ordinance, storehouse, archives or general museum of the
government.
2. In an inhabited place, any storehouse or factory of inflammable or explosive materials.
If as a consequence of his commission of any of the acts penalized under this Article, death or injury results, or any valuable documents,
equipment, machineries, apparatus, or other valuable properties were burned or destroyed, the mandatory penalty of death shall be
imposed.
Sec. 2. Provisions of Articles 320, 321 and 322 of the Revised Penal Code which are or may be inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fire Suppression system

FM-200 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System

Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems

FM-200 Fire Suppression System

Fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher, flame extinguisher,[citation needed] or simply an extinguisher, is an active fire protection device used to
extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one
which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise requires
the expertise of a fire department. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing
an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.
In the United States, fire extinguishers in all buildings other than houses are generally required to be serviced and inspected by
a Fire Protection service company at least annually. Some jurisdictions require more frequent service for fire extinguishers. The
servicer places a tag on the extinguisher to indicate the type of service performed (annual inspection, recharge, new fire
extinguisher).
There are two main types of fire extinguishers: stored pressure and cartridge-operated. In stored pressure units, the expellant
is stored in the same chamber as the firefighting agent itself. Depending on the agent used, different propellants are used.
With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is typically used; water and foam extinguishers typically use air. Stored pressure fire
extinguishers are the most common type. Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge
that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent. This type is not as common, used
primarily in areas such as industrial facilities, where they receive higher-than-average use. They have the advantage of simple
and prompt recharge, allowing an operator to discharge the extinguisher, recharge it, and return to the fire in a reasonable
amount of time. Unlike stored pressure types, these extinguishers use compressed carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen, although
nitrogen cartridges are used on low temperature (-60 rated) models. Cartridge operated extinguishers are available in dry

chemical and dry powder types in the U.S. and in water, wetting agent, foam, dry chemical (classes ABC and B.C.), and dry
powder (class D) types in the rest of the world.
Fire extinguishers are further divided into handheld and cart-mounted, also called wheeled extinguishers. Handheld
extinguishers weigh from 0.5 to 14 kilograms (1.1 to 31 lb), and are hence, easily portable by hand. Cart-mounted units
typically weigh more than 23 kilograms (51 lb). These wheeled models are most commonly found at construction
sites, airport runways, heliports, as well as docks and marinas.
nstallation[edit]

A fire extinguisher fitted to the passenger seat of a car

Fire extinguishers are typically fitted in buildings at an easily-accessible location, such as against a wall in a high-traffic area.
They are also often fitted to motor vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft - this is required by law in many jurisdictions, for identified
classes of vehicles. Under NFPA 10 all commercial vehicles must carry at least one fire extinguisher, with size/UL rating
depending on type of vehicle and cargo (i.e. fuel tankers typically must have a 9.1 kg (20 lb), while most others can carry a 2.3
kg (5 lb)). The revised NFPA 10 created criteria on the placement of "Fast Flow Extinguishers" in locations such as those storing
and transporting pressurized flammable liquids and pressurized flammable gas or areas with possibility of three dimensional
class B hazards are required to have "fast flow" extinguishers as required by NFPA 5.5.1.1. Varying classes of competition
vehicles require fire extinguishing systems, the simplest requirements being a 1A:10BC hand-held portable extinguisher
mounted to the interior of the vehicle.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Published on August 22, 2012

A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department
arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for
residents is to get out safely.
Safety tips

Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing;
everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called; and the room is not filled with
smoke.

To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:

- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle
pointing away from you, and release the locking
mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out
a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.

Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.

Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire
breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.

Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an
easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.

Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape.
Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.

How Fire Extinguishers Work

A fire extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or office. While there's a good chance that the extinguisher will sit on
the wall for years, collecting dust, it could end up saving your property and even your life.
In this article, we'll see exactly what fire extinguishers do and how they do it. We'll also find out what causes fire in the first
place, learn the correct way to use an extinguisher and see what sort of fire suppressant works best on different types of fires.
Fire is the result of a chemical combustion reaction, typically a reaction between oxygen in the atmosphere and some sort
of fuel(wood or gasoline, for example). Of course, wood and gasoline don't spontaneously catch on fire just because they're
surrounded by oxygen. For the combustion reaction to take place, the fuel has to be heated to its ignition temperature.
Fire is the result of a chemical combustion reaction, typically a reaction between oxygen in the atmosphere and some sort of
fuel (wood or gasoline, for example). Of course, wood and gasoline don't spontaneously catch on fire just because they're
surrounded by oxygen. For the combustion reaction to take place, the fuel has to be heated to its ignition temperature.
Here's the sequence of events in a typical wood fire:

Something heats the wood to very high temperatures. This could be any number of things -- focused light, friction,
something else that is already burning.

When the wood reaches about 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius), the heat decomposes some of
the cellulose material that makes up the wood.

Decomposed material is released as volatile gases, typically a compound of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen.

When the gas is hot enough, the compound molecules break apart, and the atoms recombine with the oxygen to form
water, carbon dioxide and other products.

The gases, which rise through the air, make up the flame. Carbon atoms rising in the flame emit light as they heat up.
(Check out How Light Bulbs Work to find out why heated objects emit light.)

The heat of the flame keeps the fuel at the ignition temperature, so it continues to burn as long as there is fuel and
oxygen.

As you can see, there are three essential elements involved in this process:

Extreme heat

Oxygen (or similar gas)

Fuel

Fire extinguishers are designed to remove at least one of these elements so that a fire will die out. There are several different
ways of doing this, as we'll see in the next section.

HOW TO USE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

There is a high chance of your encountering an out-of-control fire at least once in your life, so knowing how to use a fire
extinguisher is an important skill to be able to resort to. This article explains the process of using a fire extinguisher in an
emergency.
Steps

1.
1
Call for help before attempting to extinguish a serious fire. The fire may take hold much faster than you're capable of
dealing with it, and if help is on the way, it removes one less concern for you.

Call, or have someone else call, 911 in North America, 999 in the United Kingdom, 112 in the European Union and
many other countries (or the appropriateemergency number for your country) as soon as possible. Ask for the fire
service to come immediately, giving your address and a brief description of the type of fire.

Check that all other people are out of the house and have them remove pets as well. Check that they're all
assembled at a safe meeting point. Do not allow children to attempt to use a fire extinguisher or control a fire in
any respect whatsoever.

Realize that reacting to a fire requires a sound process of decision-making that children and some adults may not
be capable of coping with their panic.[1] Prior training on correct use can alleviate some of the concern here.

1. 2
Check for your own safety before starting to extinguish a fire. There are some key things to check for before you start fighting a
fire using a fire extinguisher:
Are you physically capable of extinguishing a fire? Some people have physical limitations that might diminish or eliminate

their ability to properly use a fire extinguisher. People with disabilities, older adults, or children may find that an extinguisher
is too heavy to handle or it may be too difficult for them to exert the necessary pressure to operate the extinguisher.
Look for your exit points. Ensure that there is a clear exit for immediate escape should this become necessary. At all times,

keep your mind focused on the availability of a safe retreat. If this is threatened at all, leave at once. The US National Fire
Prevention Association recommends that you install fire extinguishers close to an exit point, to enable you to keep your back
to the exit when you use the extinguisher; this ensures that you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. [2]
Do not attempt to put out a fire where it is emitting toxic smoke; if you suspect or simply don't know if the smoke is toxic,

leave it to the professionals.[1]

Check for structural safety of the building, in case burning walls, floors, or rafters pose a risk to your safety.
If you have more than one fire extinguisher, consider asking another mature and responsible person to use it in tandem with

you.
Remember that your life is more important than property, so don't place yourself or others at risk.

3
Assess the fire. Only a contained fire should be fought using a fire extinguisher. Portable fire extinguishers are valuable for immediate
use on small fires because they contain a limited amount of extinguishing material, which needs to be used properly or it will be wasted.
For example, when a pan initially catches fire, it may be safe to turn off the burner, place a lid on the pan, and use an extinguisher. By the
time the fire has spread, however, these actions will not be adequate, and only trained firefighters can safely extinguish such fires.

 Make a quick commonsense assessment about the utility and safety of using a fire extinguisher for the fire you're

experiencing. Obviously, a fire extinguisher is overkill for a candle but it's useless when the whole house is on fire. A fire in a
wastepaper basket, however, is another suitable candidate for fire extinguisher use.
Use your instincts. If your instincts tell you the fire's too dangerous to tackle, trust them. [1]

Check the type of extinguisher. In the USA, there are five main classes of fire extinguisher (note that the classes and nomenclature can
vary from country to country): A, B, C, and the less common classes D and K. The extinguishing agent might be water, dry chemical,
halon, CO2, or a special powder.
Class A: This is suitable for cloth, wood, rubber, paper, various plastics, and regular combustible fires. It is usually filled with

2 1/2 gallons (9.46 litres) of pressurized water.

Class B: This is suitable for grease, gasoline or oil-based fires is usually filled with a dry chemical. Extinguishers smaller than

6lbs (2.72kg) are not recommended.

Class C: This is suitable for electrical fires caused by appliances, tools, and other plugged in gear. It can contain either halon

or CO2. Halon 1211 and 1301 is very expensive and depletes the ozone layer, but it is being replaced by non-depleting agents
such as FM200. Note that halon is now illegal in numerous jurisdictions.
Class D: This is used for water-reactive metals such as burning magnesium and will be located in factories using such metals.

It comes in the form of a powder that must cover the material to extinguish it.
Class K: This contains a special purpose wet chemical agent for use in kitchen fires and deep fryers to stop fires started by

vegetable oils, animal fats, or other fats started in cooking appliances.

Note that many fire extinguishers will work on a combination of fire classes. You'll need to decide quickly on what type of fire

you have and ensure that your fire extinguisher is compatible with the fire you are attempting to extinguish. An all-purpose
ABC dry chemical (10lb/4.5kg) extinguisher is a safe bet for most fires, especially where you're not sure of the fire's
origins.

5
Ready the fire extinguisher. Almost all fire extinguishers have a safety pin in the handle. This pin usually looks like a plastic or metal
ring, sometimes colored red, that is held in place by a plastic seal. The distinctive features will vary depending on the type of fire
extinguisher you have. You must break the seal and pull the safety pin from the handle before you can use the fire extinguisher by
squeezing the lever, which discharges the fire extinguishing agent.

 It helps if you ensure that you're familiar with how your fire extinguisher works before being placed under pressure; take time

to read over its instructions after you've read this article. Familiarize yourself with its special features and parts. Different
extinguishers rely on different methods of use: be aware of this in advance of having to use them.

6
Aim for the base of the fire. Shooting into the flame is a waste of the fire extinguisher, as you're not putting out the source of the
flames. It's vital to stop the fire at its source, or to remove or dampen the fuel from the fire, in order to put it out. By focusing the
extinguisher's spray at the base of the fire or the source, you're extinguishing the fuel.

7
Remember the simple acronym P.A.S.S. to help you use the fire extinguisher effectively. P.A.S.S. stands
for: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep, explained below the printable diagram.
Pull the safety pin from the handle. The pin is located at the top of the fire extinguisher. Once removed, it releases the

locking mechanism, allowing you to discharge the extinguisher.

 Aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. As explained, this removes the source or fuel of the fire. Keep

yourself low.
Squeeze the handle or lever slowly to discharge the agent. Letting go of the handle will stop the discharge, so keep it held

down.
Sweep side to side approximately 6in or 15cm over the fire until expended. The sweeping motion helps to extinguish the fire.

Stand several feet or metres back from the fire: fire extinguishers are manufactured for use from a distance.
The fire may flare up somewhat as extinguishing begins due to the flames being pushed away from the burning material (the

real target) by the agent and gust of propellant. Do not be alarmed so long as it dies back promptly.

8
Be aware that the typical fire extinguisher will contain around 10 seconds of extinguishing power. If the extinguisher has
already been discharged partially, this time will be less.
If the fire doesn't respond well after you've used up the fire extinguisher, remove yourself to safety quickly.
If the room fills with smoke, make a hasty exit. [2]

9
Tend to the area if you have successfully put out the fire. This means not leaving it alone, as it might re-ignite without warning. If it
is safe to do so, remove fuel sources and commence cleaning up. Water can be used to ensure there are no remaining sparks in materials
that are safe to extinguish with water (most combustibles other than oils and other insoluble combustible liquids or places involving
electricity). The fire department could help you ensure the fire is completely extinguished. If you're legally obliged to report fires to local
authorities, then do so, especially if filing for an insurance claim.

10
Purchase a new fire extinguisher immediately. The old one is now depleted and will serve no further purpose. Do not allow an empty
extinguisher to be present where it could create the false impression of being a good extinguisher. A multi-purpose extinguisher is best for
a home; check that it is labeled by an independent testing laboratory. [2]Some fire extinguishers can be recharged; for smaller ones,
replacing may be cheaper.
Fire extinguishers should be wall mounted in an accessible place. Keep out of the reach of children who are not responsible

enough to leave well alone.

 It's a good idea to always keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen away from sources of heat such as the stove or cooking

surfaces.
Other good places to keep a fire extinguisher include: your car, your garage (especially if you use welding equipment or

flammable products), your caravan or RV, and your boat. In each case, mount it somewhere accessible and protected from
outdoor elements.
Ensure that everyone in the house knows where the fire extinguisher is located and how to use it (provided they are old

enough and responsible enough to do so).

Choosing Fire Extinguishers

Identify the type of materials in the area
Class A:

SOLIDS such as paper, wood, plastic etc

Class B:

FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS such as paraffin, petrol, oil etc

Class C:

FLAMMABLE GASES such as propane, butane,

methane etc

Class D:

METALS such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium etc

Class E:

Fires involving ELECTRICAL APPARATUS

Class F:

Cooking OIL & FAT etc

Types of fire extinguisher

Water Fire Extinguishers:

The cheapest and most widely used fire extinguishers. Used for Class A fires. Not suitable for Class B (Liquid) fires, or where electricity is
involved.

Foam Fire Extinguishers:

More expensive than water, but more versatile. Used for Classes A & B fires. Foam spray extinguishers are not recommended for fires
involving electricity, but are safer than water if inadvertently sprayed onto live electrical apparatus.

Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers

Often termed the multi-purpose extinguisher, as it can be used on classes A, B & C fires. Best for running liquid fires (Class B). Will
efficiently extinguish Class C gas fires, BUT BEWARE, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO EXTINGUISH A GAS FIRE WITHOUT FIRST ISOLATING THE
GAS SUPPLY. Special powders are available for class D metal fires.
Warning: when used indoors, powder can obscure vision or damage goods and machinery. It is also very messy.

CO2 Fire Extinguishers:

Carbon Dioxide is ideal for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B liquid fires, but has NO POST FIRE SECURITY
and the fire could re-ignite.
Wet chemical
Specialist extinguisher for class F fires.
For Metal Fires: A specialist fire extinguisher for use on Class D fires - metal fires such as sodium, lithium, manganese and aluminium
when in the form of swarf or turnings.
Colour Coding
Prior to 1st Jan 1997, the code of practice for fire extinguishers in the UK was BS 5423, which advised the colour coding of fire
extinguishers as follows:
Water - Red

Foam - Cream
Dry Powder - Blue
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - Black
Halon - Green (now 'illegal' except for a few exceptions such as the Police, Armed Services and Aircraft).
New extinguishers should conform to BS EN 3, which requires that the entire body of the extinguisher be coloured red. A
zone of colour of up to 5% of the external area can be used to identify the contents using the old colour coding shown
above.

Fireground Tactics: Pre-Fire Planning

The number of fatalities involving firefighters trapped in burning structures has essentially remained consistent over the past decade. To
reduce these figures, we must become and remain aware of the total fireground environment and not just the fact that fire is visible on
scene.
The moth to the candle syndrome still drives a significant portion of on-scene tactics and causes tunnel vision. If we are to be taken as
serious professionals, we need to learn how to understand the information and clues the burning structure is screaming at us. These will
steer our decision making process through the risk-benefit process necessary to make the initial strategy choice of offensive or defensive
fire attack pathways.
Nearly 65 percent of LODDs last year were caused by emergency scene operations, and of that number about 12 percent involved building
collapse. The debate of offensive versus defensive tactics must be based on a variety of significant sub-topics and all will be discussed in
this two-part article. Essentially we need to prepare the fireground commander with the foundational topics that will allow them to make
the best risk benefit assessment possible.
The fireground commander must be intimately familiar with:

Building construction techniques in general and specifically those that exist within their district

The initiation and evolution of the various fire stages

The burn characteristics of the building materials of the structures they may fight fire in and those clues that may warn them of an
impending collapse.

It's vital crews are trained and prepared both physically and mentally to face the challenges ahead of them. Know what capabilities
your initial on-scene crews are able to handle and know where to obtain assistance with resources when necessary. Finally, train yourself
and practice your ability to define risk benefit on all your scenes.
One of the most significant skills a fireground commander should possess is one they can obtain before ever showing up on scene of a fire.
Knowledge of how a building is constructed will offer tactical clues regarding:

Rate of fire spread

Void spaces for hidden fires

Weak areas that can be subjected to rapid deterioration secondary to fire

How specific structures may collapse should an advanced fire weaken the structural support system for a given building.

Knowing the types of building construction classification is paramount to projecting the future evolution of fire within a structure:

Type I - fire-resistive construction (walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs made of non-combustible or limited combustible
materials)

Type II - non-combustible or limited combustible construction (similar to fire-resistive construction except that the degree of fire
resistance is lower)

Type III - ordinary construction (exterior walls and structural members constructed of non-combustible or limited combustible
materials; interior structural members including walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs completely or partially constructed of
wood)

Type IV - heavy timber construction (exterior and interior walls and their associated structural members made of non-combustible or
limited combustible materials; other interior structural members including beams, columns, arches, floors, and roofs made of solid
or laminated wood with no concealed spaces; wood must have dimensions large enough to be considered heavy timber)

Type V - wood-frame construction (exterior walls, bearing walls, floors, roofs, and supports completely or partially of wood or other
approved materials of smaller dimensions than those used in heavy timber construction)

Knowing how a building is constructed will greatly enhance the fireground commander's ability to project the movement and speed of a
fire that involves a building's structure versus a contents fire. Try and take the time to get out to your buildings under construction in your
area and see how they are put together.
The next tool for selecting proper tactical operations is to try and gauge what stage the fire is at upon arrival. Matching proper resources in
the proper place at the proper time will almost always succeed against an unthinking enemy.
Fire development consists of a variety of stages:
Ignition
The period when oxygen, heat, fuel and chain reaction come together in proper rations to allow for the initial combustion process to occur.
At this initial point in the fire progression, the fire is minimal and easily extinguished.
Growth
In this stage of the fire, the amount of heat being generated creates thermal updrafting which allows for the movement of air from the
surrounding area to the seat of the fire to assist with maintaining oxygen levels to continue feeding the fire.
Flashover
This next stage occurs between the growth phase of the fire and the next, which is the fully developed stage. At this point in the evolution
of the fire, heat from the growth stage has sufficiently heated up surrounding fuels to the point where their flammable vapors are sufficient
in volume and heat to ignite all fuels within an area simultaneously.
Fully Developed
Post-flashover, all combustible materials in the area are burning with the degree of heat release based on the available air for combustion.
Decay
As the level of oxygen or the amount of available fuel for combustion begins to decline, the rate of heat release from combusting materials
begins to decline as well. This lowers both temperature and oxygen levels in the fire compartment.
The evolution of the size of the fire is based on a number of items such as the size, amount and distribution of ventilation openings into
the fire compartment, the volume of the area involved, thermal properties of the fire compartment walls and height of the ceiling. In
addition, the size, composition and location of the fuel inside the fire compartment and what is easiest to be ignited will also define the
size and speed of fire evolution within a given compartment.
In the old days, natural materials with lower BTUs and that ignited less easily allowed for fire growth that was slower in reaching the
flashover stage. Crews were able to get on scene and get water to the seat of the fire before the volume of fire caused flashover. But in
today's homes, the energy efficiency of the construction coupled with synthetic materials creates fires that burn much hotter and faster

than half a century ago. The time to flashover is much quicker and statistically is reached about the time crews are just forcing entry and
deploying their initial suppression lines.
The amount of heat being generated in today's fires has also significantly increased. This higher heat content significantly impacts the
ability of other construction materials such as steel to fail sooner into the fire.
Masonry exposed to higher temperatures subject the mortar to degrade quicker and weaken sooner.
Among the hazards to be aware of are:

Cast iron may shatter when heated and then struck with cold water from attack lines

Reinforced concrete soon loses its strength and begins to spall

Glass with wire-reinforced wire may provide some thermal protection but does not serve as an effective deterrent to fire extension

Fiberglass will soon lose the resins that keep the fibers together as well as add to the volume of combustible materials on fire.

Once a good understanding has been gained of how the structure involved in fire will react based on construction, fire stage, materials
involved and the total fire load, a fireground commander should have the ability to make educated assessments on the speed and
direction of the fire. In addition, the fireground commander and all firefighters within the structure must have a working mental reference
of indicators of building collapse.
These include:

Cracks or separations in walls, floors, ceilings, or roof structures

Evidence of existing structural instability such as the presence of tie rods and stars that hold walls together

Loose bricks, blocks, or stones falling from buildings

Deteriorated mortar between the masonry

Walls that appear to be leaning

Structural members that appear to be distorted

Fires beneath floors that support heavy machinery or other extreme weight loads

Prolonged fire exposure to the structural members

Unusual creaks and cracking noises

Structural members pulling away from walls

Excessive weight of building contents

Finally, before deploying their resources, the fireground commander must consider the operational readiness of their crews. Have they
received the training and do they possess the experience necessary to keep themselves safe?
Ask yourself the following questions and be sure you are ready to face a harsh reality if your answers aren't what you would like to hear:
Are your crews trained to carry out the instructions that you will assign them to meet the tactical plan you are building?
Are your engineers practiced enough to get the apparatus positioned for best utilization, and are they able to operate the pump or the
ladder quickly and efficiently?
Are your officers practiced to perform a size up, develop an initial strategy, choose initial tactics to implement an effective initial
strategy, lead a suitably aggressive yet safe suppression process, and coordinate any activities assigned?
Are your firefighters trained to perform the duties to which they will be assigned in a safe and effective manner?
Is your appointed safety officer capable of maintaining the overall safety of the incident scene?
Do you have sufficient staffing to meet assignments that the unit will be given in a safe and efficient manner?
Do your crews understand and practice the two-in-two-out procedures at all times?
Is there sufficient staffing on the apparatus to make an initial attack or provide support for an engine crew?
Are your personnel arriving on multiple pieces of apparatus to make up necessary minimum staffing for an assignment?
What total length of time it will take to have adequate staffing on the scene to initiate an interior attack while maintaining a rapid
intervention team in place?
Do you have adequate apparatus response based on the hazard involved?
What are the possibilities that there will be a delay in arrival of some of the units due to road conditions, weather, travel distances, or
units not being staffed immediately?
Do you need for specialized apparatus due to the particular hazard?
Does your apparatus have access to all sides of the location?
If you were able to answer positively to all of the above questions, well done! You should feel proud and confident that you can meet the
majority of fire challenges your firefighters will face. If not, take a hard look at those items that can be corrected quickly through training
and address them. In addition, be very aware of those thingsthat can cause safety issues, and plan for alternate strategies or assignments
to ensure your personnel are matched with tasks they are capable of completing in a safe fashion.

As we can see, a well prepared fireground commander knows the structures they will be deploying firefighters into. You must know what
the construction of that structure will be in that it will dictate the future of that structure when impacted by fire. Pre-planning is essential
to know how and what hazards the building will present to the crews who will fight fire in.
Knowing how a structure is built will also dictate how it will burn and how it could collapse. If we have some minimal insight into what the
fire will do to the building, you can plan and deploy resources accordingly, keeping firefighter safety as the primary concern. Next month
we will connect the information presented here with a risk/benefit process to allow the fireground commander to make the best selection
when deciding whether to initiate an offensive or defensive fire attack.

Effective Pre-Incident Planning Reduces Firefighter Deaths

Pre-incident planning is the process of gathering and recording information that could be critical for public safety personnel making lifesaving decisions at an incident, such as a fire, terrorist attack, or natural disaster. Pre-incident plans generally include information that will
be used by decision makers at a fire or other incident. Property and lives can be saved when the Incident Commander has access to this
critical information about the building and its contents.
A huge benefit of pre-fire planning is that it has steadily improved firefighter safety, according to Wayne Senter, recent Chair of the
International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). What we see is that our death rate in firefighters is going down, Senter said. Probably the
biggest thing that were doing in the (fire safety) service to reduce firefighter deaths is fire prevention and prefire planning. Senter says
formal pre-fire planning has been performed for more than 25 years, noting that the fire service industry has always done walkthroughs of
buildings, inspected construction and contents, access and the possibility of a collapse.

Pre-plans Pinpoint Hazards, High Risks

Pre-fire planning is essential, no matter what size your fire department may be. A detailed pre-plan can help the Incident Commander
determine what approach to take with battling a fire and how to best deploy firefighters and apparatus at the incident scene. Even the
smallest towns contain buildings or sites that require pre-incident plans, especially schools, medical clinics, auto-repair shops, or any other
businesses that may use flammable or otherwise hazardous materials.
A detailed pre-fire plan shows a buildings floor plan, doors and other access points, hydrant locations, roof construction, sprinkler and FDC
details, alarm panel location, stairwells, utility shut-offs, and occupant contact information, and so on. One of the most critical pieces of
information a pre-plan can offer is the presence of hazardous materials, what type, quantity, and location within the building. Ideally, preincident plans will list materials located at a site so they can easily be found in the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). This guidebook
is used by Fire and Police Departments to identify specific hazards and how to deal with them.

Automating Pre-plans Is Goal

In years past, pre-fire diagrams and the associated information were usually copied on paper and stored in three-ring binders in the
departments vehicles. Someone would have to search through the binders to find the pre-plan for the building where the incident
occurred. Unfortunately, as binders get full they become more difficult to reference so pre-plans take longer to find. Fortunately,
technology is alleviating this problem.
Today, most fire departments have mobile computers in at least some of their vehicles and pre-plans are best stored there. When preplans
are stored electronically they are much easier to maintain and can be accessed in seconds with a simple search or automatically from the
dispatch system. According to IAFCs Wayne Senter, Whats different now is that we have the ability to put this information onto a
computer and have it readily available to the responding firefighters. Computers give a perfect solution for how we can organize the data,
keep it more current, and access it quickly, Senter adds.
Pre-Plan Software
Software is now available to help fire departments create building and site diagrams and organize those diagrams into complete preincident plans. These plans are then stored on their mobile computers in the apparatus so they can be accessed on the way to an incident.
One popular offering from The CAD Zone, Inc. (www.cadzone.com) combines two software programs, The Fire Zone and First Look Pro. The
Fire Zone is used to electronically create pre-fire, post-incident, and fire-investigation drawings.
First Look Pro allows fire personnel to compile these diagrams, along with other critical information into an electronic database of preincident plans. Once plans are stored in First Look Pro, with just a couple of mouse clicks, the user can locate the plan for any site. Each
plan can contain floor plan and site diagrams, photographs, details of the building construction, information on the best way to gain
access, hydrant locations, and even strategy notes. A mobile mapping option for First Look Pro provides a street map that shows the
location of the call and the current location of the vehicle that is updated in real-time by a GPS transmitter (included in First Look Pro Map.)
Automating Preplans Boosts Efficiency, Saves Time
For those fire departments that have turned to software programs to streamline their pre-fire planning, the results have been rewarding.
For example, if the city or county planning department already has electronic drawings of commercial buildings, these can be imported
into The Fire Zone program and easily modified to create an accurate pre-fire diagram.
The Hollandale Beach Fire Department (Florida) uses this method to gather some of their pre-fire diagrams. You just remove some of the
details (or layers) that you dont need, Chief Johnson says. Automated preplanning software is especially vital to the Hollandale Fire
Department given that several buildings in its four-and-one-half-mile wide jurisdiction rise at least 50 stories high. Response times to fires
are short, making it essential that preplan data be immediately accessible. Preplanning software has come to the forefront due to limited
staffing and resources, said Chief Johnson. On any given day here, theres probably a crew out gathering information for a prefire plan,
or updating a current record, he adds.

Chief Bob Skillman, of the Loveland, Colorado Fire Department, reports that by using The Fire Zone and First Look Pro programs every
building in its district will be preplanned within the next three years. However, says Chief Skillman, Weve been fortunate since the city
already had electronic drawings for a lot of buildings that we could import into The Fire Zone. Were trying to work with our building
department so that whenever plans come in electronically, we can get them imported into our preplan software program.
According to Chief Skillman, having their preplan automated helps the Loveland Fire Department accomplish three important objectives
faster than ever before: 1) Firefighters can be informed sooner about what conditions may exist within a building they are about to enter;
2) The Incident Commander will know more about the building construction and any hazardous materials so he or she can make informed
decisions about what actions to recommend; and 3) Once inside the building, fire fighters can be given better direction about where to go,
especially when visibility is reduced by smoke.
Electronic Preplans Are Better Than Hand Drawn
Converting to electronic pre-incident plans has resulted in better quality diagrams and more consistent information than found in the old
manual plans. Were seeing more consistent drawings, Chief Skillman says proudly, adding, When people here do building inspections,
they can update preplans, too. The Fire Zone includes thousands of pre-drawn NFPA and other industry-standard symbols and many other
features specifically for drawing pre-plans. These wizards are a big help for firefighters learning to create floor plan and site diagrams.
With First Look Pro, a department creates an electronic database of all their pre-incident plans. This gives fire fighters the ability to locate
the plan for any specific address and to get information about other buildings near it. For instance, maps and aerial photographs can be
added to First Look Pro that show an entire block of buildings and addresses. According to Chief Skillman We can see where the alleys are,
where buildings are chopped up, where a store starts and stops. This is a true benefit to us. We need to know how many apartments,
apartment numbers, windows, corridor protections, fire alarm and sprinkler systems there are in these building. First Look Pro provides an
easy-to-use receptacle for all this critical information, and more, making it invaluable at the scene of an incident.
Loveland Fire Department has installed their pre-incident plans on ruggedized computers in their apparatus. The computers are linked to a
Computer Aided Dispatch system that is shared by Lovelands police and fire departments. The fire department applied for special grant
funding and city funds to purchase the ruggedized computers for its fire trucks. In addition to the preplanning software programs, the
ruggedized computers also will house a mapping system that can be used in conjunction with pulling up preplans of specific addresses.

--------------------------

Fire Prevention Tips and What to Do in Case of Fire in the Philippines

Most Fires in the Philippines Are Caused by Sudden Combustion of Flammable Materials, Faulty Electrical Connections, and Nonmaintenance of Cooking Stoves and LPG Tanks
The incidence of fire in the Philippines is considerably high especially in dense metropolitan areas. Urban fires tend to increase from March
to May, the Philippine summer season. March is also known as the country's "Fire Prevention Month."
As fires claim lives, destroy properties, and steal the invested future of those left behind by the tragedy, the "Fire Prevention Month"
reminds Filipinos that homes, offices, and commercial establishments such as shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, and other public
areas become more susceptible to fire when these dwelling places are not properly maintained or if people don't exercise proper
precautions to avoid possibilities of fire.
Government agencies and private organizations disseminate information to the public through events, posters, flyers, school bulletins,
office announcements, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and web ads, street and highway posts, and other venues that can help
circulate reminders, fire prevention tips, and what to do in case of fire.
The Philippines is a tropical country. The temperature is almost the same the whole year round. The summer season from March to May
has a temperature range between 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit while the colder season from November to February has a temperature
range between 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Flammable Materials
Properly store flammable materials such as gasoline, alcohol, paint, lighter, and matches. These materials might reach their critical points
from the hot weather and such can possibly result to fire. Avoid throwing cigarette butts that are still lit, especially on dried leaves,
garbage, and pieces of paper or tissue, as such may cause sudden combustion; and the fire can easily spread with the aid of these
materials, along with the high temperature and the oxygen in the air. Also, don't leave lit cigarette, cigar, or pipe unattended to avoid
accidental contact with flammable materials and materials that can easily spread fire.
When using a candle or gas lamp especially during a power outage, never leave it unattended and don't put it near curtains, papers, and
tissues. The same thing goes with lit mosquito coils which are commonly used during blackouts. Avoid placing them near windows, fans,
and other surfaces that are prone to accidental toppling.
Keep candles, lamps, and mosquito coils out of reach of children or even pets.
Electrical Connections
As many large fires in the Philippines are caused by faulty electrical connections, electrical overloading, and wiring problems, it is
extremely important to ask a licensed electrical engineer to conduct fire safety inspections in homes, offices, and establishments to avoid

serious problems on electrical connections. Conducting regular checks and maintenance work prevents possible threats of fire. While it is
possible to save a few bucks by having things checked or repaired by a non-licensed electrician or technician, such may even increase the
risk of fire caused by long-term electrical system problems.
Don't overload electrical circuits by putting lights, gadgets, and other electric and electronic appliances beyond the capacity of the
electrical system. It is also an ideal practice to unplug all appliances and gadgets after use or after charging.
Another important fire prevention advice that involves simple lifestyle practice: proper usage, storage, and maintenance of electric and
electronic appliances. Make sure electric cords are free from breakages. If plugs and fuses need repair, don't use metal items such as
staples or nails to fasten the cords and don't replace blown fuses with coins, wires, or any other metal. Use applicable replacement
materials and ask a professional to properly fix frayed wirings and problematic electrical fixtures.
Cooking
A number of fire accidents reported in the Philippines also involve improper (or lack of) maintenance and other connection problems with
LPG tanks. These are generally used by the Filipino households for cooking. As a fire prevention measure, always check the connections
and conduct maintenance procedures on gas stoves and LPG tanks. Check them for leaks and always seek professional help for any
serious concern. It is also important not to leave the stove open beyond cooking time (sometimes, people forget to turn off stoves before
sleeping, leaving the house, or doing other things). Don't put any flammable material near the stove and make sure children and pets
won't have easy access to them as well.
What to Do in Case of Fire
Maintenance, Security, and Pre-fire Planning
It is always beneficial to add a smoke detector to every floor of the house, office, or any establishment. Make sure that batteries are
changed at least once a year. Set a significant, easy to remember date like a birthday, an anniversary, or a holiday for the annual checkup of the smoke detector. This maintenance procedure must include checking the alarm system if it is fully functional.
Invest in a fire extinguisher or a number of fire extinguishers for larger spaces. Place them near fire-prone places such as the kitchen
and/or other places that can be easily accessible during emergencies. Make sure people know how to operate them. It is best to put a note
beside a fire extinguisher to assure proper use.
As fire department phone numbers in the Philippines differ per city or town, put the numbers beside the telephone unit and store them on
family members' or office workers' mobile phones as well.
Participate on fire and earthquake drills (earthquakes can possibly cause fire, too) that are usually organized by the local government,
schools, building owners, and offices. Make a pre-fire plan complete with escape routes for each room.

In case of actual fire, while people naturally want to save as much belongings as they can, it is best to escape as quickly as possible to
avoid further health and safety risks that may come from getting trapped in the fire.
Help eliminate the fire only if there is access to key resources such as fire extinguisher and water. If the fire is uncontrollable, prioritize
escaping, then call the fire department.
Avoid suffocation in a smoke-filled room by crawling as close to the ground as possible while trying to escape. When inside a building, use
stairs instead of elevators. When clothes or the hair catch fire, stop, drop and roll over the floor to extinguish the flames. If near a water
source and a cloth, put enough water to the cloth then put it over the burning area to eliminate the flames.
--------------

Fire Fighter Exam Samples

Fire Fighter 1 Exam
Fire Fighter 2 Exam
Fire Fighting Mechanical Aptitude Exam
Fire Fighting Spacial and Directional Orientation Exam
Fire Fighting Judgement and Reasoning
Fire Fighter Basic Mathematics Exam
Hazardous Materials Exam
Fire Fighting Vocabulary, Grammar and Spelling Exam

Fire Fighter 1 Sample Exam

1. There are four conditions that must be met to have a BLEVE. Which of the following is
not one of the conditions?
Confined liquid temperature must be above boiling point at atmospheric pressure
when container fails
Substance cannot be a gas, it must be a liquid
Liquids involve always have a UEL of 40 PPM or greater
Structural failure of the container
2. Which mechanism is not a way to transfer heat?

Fusible link
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
3. NFPA 704M is the standardized system for the identification of fire hazards associated
with hazardous materials. This placard is a square (broken into quadrants) that is tilted
up onto a corner (diamond) What does a blue quadrant represent?
Reactivity
Specific hazard (special information)
Health hazards
Flammability
4. When using the Phonetic alphabet what does "H" stand for?
Holycross or hand
Henry or hotel
Had or hippo
Hawaii or horn
5. Ladders used in the fire service have many pieces and parts. Which part is not part of a
fire service ladder?
Rope
Pulley
Halyard
Ream
6. Type III building construction is:

Fire resistive
Non-combustible or limited combustible
Ordinary
Heavy timber
7. NFPA _________ is the standard for fire officer professional qualifications. Fill in the
blank.
1389
1710
1002
1021
8. The acronym O-A-T-H is used during confined space rescue. What does the O stand for?
Obey
Onward
Ok
Overturn
9. There are nine different hazardous materials warning labels. What does a class 8 label
represent?
Corrosive
Flammable and combustible liquid
Poison and poison inhalation hazard
Explosives
10. On fire extinguishers, which symbol represents combustible metals or class D fuels?
Star

Square
Triangle
Circle
Fire Fighter 2 Sample Exam
1. At 212 degrees F water expands approximately how many times its original volume?
1700
1200
1000
800

2. What type of extrication tools are above?

Air chisels
Power ram
Hydraulic ram
Highline pistol
3. What does acronym MVC stand for?
Motor Vehicle Collision
Mass Vehicle Collision
Most Valuable Cadet
Master Vehicle Corridor

4. What is the normal concentration of oxygen in ambient air?

19.9%
20.9%
0.204
0.219
5. Which hazard may need to be mitigated at an MVC?
Antifreeze spill
Fix-a-Flat fluid
Kitty-litter
Vegetable oil
6. NFPA 1710 has four main purposes. Which of the following answers is not one of the
purposes?
Improve EMS delivery
Improve methods of fire prevention, extinguishment and fire control
Decrease amount of time on scene
Protect firefighters, ems providers, and the public
7. Firefighter A says there are two types of self contained breathing apparatus used by the
fire service. They are open circuit and closed circuit. Firefighter B says that they agree
but wanted to add in that closed circuit is used more frequently than open circuit. Who is
correct?
Firefighter A
Firefighter B
Both Firefighters

Neither Firefighter
8. Which of the following knots is not in the figure eight family of knots?
Figure eight
Fisherman's knot
Water knot
Figure eight on a bight
9. In automobiles what does the acronym SIPS stand for?
Side impact pressure systems
Side impact protection system
Supplemental inverted pressure switch
Side impact pressure switch
10. Building construction is classified under multiple categories. Type I construction is what?
Wood frame
Heavy timber
Non-combustible or limited combustible
Fire resistive

Fire Fighter Mechanical Aptitude Exam

1. Which answer best describes siphoning?
To lift an object

Joining two pieces of metal

Bonding two pieces of plastic
Transferring liquid through a tube

2. Fill in the blank. Justin and Jamey pulled off a 100' section of wildland hose and a
__________ nozzle to fight the grass fire. Use the picture above to figure out the answer.
Master
Forester
Dual
Duo

3. This tool is a ________________.

Halligan tool
Kelly tool

Pry bar
Maul
4. Of the types of saws listed, which is not an electrical powered saw?
Hack saw
Jigsaw
Band saw
Chainsaw

5. The firefighting tool shown above is a _______________________

Chainsaw
Circular saw
Carbide chain
Concrete saw

6. In firefighting the tool above is called a ____________________

Hydra ram
Pneumatic spreaders
Hydraulic cutters
Amkus pump
7.
The firefighting tool shown above is a _______________________
Pike pole
Drywall hook
Rubbish hook
Come-along
8. Choose the best answer for the definition. This tool is used to cut locks, barb wire fence,
and steel bars.
Tin snips
Halligan tool
Kelly tool
Bolt cutters
9. Choose the best answer for the following definition. Used for making holes in metal.
Masonry drill bit
Dato blade
Auger bit
Carbide drill bit

10. This pair of ______ cutters above could be very usefully in a situation where a ceiling
collapsed and a firefighter became entrapped. See above image.
Wire
Hole
Keyhole
Tin

Fire Fighter Spacial and Directional Orientation

1. At a wildland fire you have a rapidly growing fire in a wildland urban interface area. You
have a structure with vinyl siding that you know will burn if the fire gets close enough. A
helicopter is coming with a bucket to drop water around the structure. Which answer
depicts the rooftop of the picture above?
A
B
C
D

2. Out of the two stations which two months had the highest call volume? Use the line
graph above to answer the question.
Sep. and Jan.
Jan. and March
July and Aug.
Sep. and Nov.

3. The graph above is a _______ graph.

Pie
Line
Bar
None of the above

4. This little town has many high gpm hydrants. How many are there exactly?
1
2
3

5. In the map of Bantuckna what section of town is the pond?

NW
SW
NE
SE

6. If you were conducting a size up on a structure, pretend you are doing a walk around.
While looking at the front of the structure(s) on the left, what would you expect the rear
of the structure(s) to look like?
A
B
C
D

7. This large appliance has a storz fitting on one end and three 2 1/2" discharges on the
other. It also has three gate valves. Which of the four answers is the same exact picture
as the sample?
A
B
C

8. Nearly _________% of all the calls were brush fires. Use the graph above to answer this
question.
20
15
30
25

9. Which month had the highest occurrence of DUI arrests?

Jan.
Dec.
April
July

10. ____ gears are turning clockwise in the above illustration.

3
5
6
7

Fire Fighter Judgement and Reasoning Sample Exam

1. Directional orientation can be an integral part of the fire service. This belt and pulley
system above shows 5 pulleys. If gear 3 is turning counter clockwise which way is pulley
4 turning.
Counter clockwise
Up
Down
Clockwise

2. Several gears are turning clockwise in the illustration above. How many exactly are
there?
3
4
5
6
3. Firefighter Lebowitz and Revosky are doing a fire inspection on a building when the owner
approaches them and says, "This building is safe. Why don't you fellas save some time
and finish this thing now?" What is the most likley reason for the owner's statement?
There are code violations that he does not want discovered
He values the fire service and does not want to waste the fire fighter's time
He knows the building is safe because he owns it
The owner is a big donator to the fireman's ball and is looking for some free tickets
4. Fire fighter McSnuff is searching under beds and in closets of a burning home. Why is he
doing this?
Electrical panels are often in closets
These places often contain smoldering items
Kids will often use these places to hide from a fire
Closets on exterior walls can provide easy entry points from outside

If you were conducting a size up on a structure, pretend you are doing a walk around. While
looking at the front of the structure(s) on the left, what would you expect the rear of the
structure(s) to look like?
5.
A
B
C
D

6. Which of the following choices is not a factor when assessing a fire emergency?
Type of building material
Occupants of building

What fire codes were violated

Which direction the wind is blowing

7. What type of tool is the tool above?

Striking
Prying
Flexible
Power
8. After driving to a wildfire FF Leonard drives into a grassy portion, stops, puts the truck
into park and continues to put out a 50 X 50 grass fires. The winds today are coming out
of the west at 17 mph. What is wrong with this picture?
Nothing, the firefighter is doing exactly what he is taught to do
He is still parked in the green during a wildland fire
There is a red flag warning with the high winds
He should not have put the truck in park in case he has to get out of there fast

9. The top three types of calls that account for the largest percentage of calls are, brush
fires, _____________, and false alarms. Use the graph above to answer this question.
Mutual aid
House fires
Car wrecks
Business fires

10. E32 is responding to a fire at Bob's bank. What street is bobs Bank on?
Wipple circle
Spoonless street
First Street
Mayo street

Fire Fighter Basic Mathematics Exam

1. In the following number which number after the decimal represents a thousandth? .
93456
9
4
6
3
2. L111 gets 4 miles per gallon. If L111 drives 76 miles how many gallons of diesel will it
have used? Round to the nearest whole number.
19
20
21
22
3. What is the square footage of a building that is 330' X 143'?
36,000
42,130

45,790
47,190
4. If gas costs $3.29 per gallon and you purchase 6.5 gallons, how much money will you
spend?
$27.19
$21.39
$12.39
$21.45
5. During the preplan process of a building you must obtain the square footage. You have a
strip mall with two occupancies. One occupancy measures 96' X 52', and the other
measures 114' X 52'. What is the approximate square footage for this building?
10000
11000
12000
13000
6. If a fire engine is traveling down the interstate driving 55 mph and reaches the reported
vehicle fire 13 minutes, approximately how far did the engine travel? Use the following
formula: Rate X Time = Distance
12 miles
13 miles
18 miles
19 miles
7. There are 5 sections of 100' wildland hose and 11 sections of 50' structural hose that is
being pressure tested. During hose testing 3 sections of structural hose blows. What is

the total amount of wildland hose that failed the test?

0'
150'
300'
1050'
8. Jim and Sarah invited seven friends over for dinner. If each friend brought one guest how
many people will be at the dinner excluding Jim and Sarah
7
9
14
16
9. If a fire apparatus bay is 56 feet long and the fire apparatus is 38 feet long, how many
feet is left over in the bay?
12 feet
14 feet
16 feet
18 feet
10. Find the average number from the following numbers. 13, 33, 2, 10, 3.
12.2
12.4
12.6
12.8

Hazardous Materials Sample Questions

1. You cannot measure____________ on a 4 gas meter.
Oxygen
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Dioxide
LEL
2. Directions: Of the following statements regarding tank cars choose the best answer of A
through D. Statement 1- Capacity stencils are the only markings on tank cars. Statement
2-There are three types of markings for tank cars. Statement 3-The three types of
markings on tank cars are specification markings, initials (reporting marks), and capacity
stencils.
Statement 1 is true; Statements 2 and 3 are false
Statement 1 is false; Statements 2 and 3 are true
Statement 1 and 2 are true; Statement 3 is false
Statement 1 and 2 are false; Statement 3 is true
3. True or false. The green section of an Emergency Response Guidebook has the table of
initial isolation and protective action distances. Use an ERG to find the answer.
True
False
NA
NA
4. The NFA uses a simple classification system for identifying the hazards faced at
emergency incidents. This classification is know by the acronym TRACEMP. It stands for:
Type, reaction, association, chemical, etiological, mechanical, psychological

Type, reaction, asphyxiants, chemical, etiological, mechanical, psychological

Thermal, radiological, asphyxiants, chemical, epidemic, make-up, physiological
Thermal, radiological, asphyxiants, chemical, etiological, mechanical, psychological
5. True or False. According to the Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention Office,
there are 9 reactive classes: Highly flammable, explosive, polymerizable, strong oxidizing
agent, strong reducing agent, water-reactive, non-reactive, peroxidizable, compounds,
and radioactive materials.
True
False
NA
NA
6. Asphalt's ID number is________. Find the answer using an emergency response
guidebook.
2010
1899
1344
1999
7. Hazardous materials have nine different classification placards. What does a class 5
placard depict?
Explosives
Corrosives
Radioactive
Oxidizer and organic peroxides
8. Two materials that do not readily dissolve into each other are considered:

Negligible
Slightly soluble
Miscible
Immiscible
9. In an Emergency Response Guidebook the ___________ bordered pages is an index list
of dangerous goods in numerical order of ID number.
Blue
Yellow
Green
Orange
10. What is the normal concentration of oxygen in ambient air?
19.90%
20.9%
23.9%
20.2%

Fire Fighter Vocabulary, Grammar and Spelling

1. Which word is spelled incorrectly?
Haggard
Habitable
Harrass
Hindsight

2. Which word is spelled correctly?

Distortion
Depplore
Disparety
Deralict
3. Choose the best word to complete the sentence. Despite the ____________ pain in her
knee she got up to walk her dog.
Vicarious
Unique
Tranquil
Tremendous
4. When using the Phonetic alphabet what does "G" stand for?
Golf or georgia
Gash or grain
Golf or george
Gorge or george
5. Which answer best describes the word? SATURATE
Confident
Pretend
Empty
Soak
6. Choose the best word to complete the sentence. After Ryan took a _________ of water
he started choking, but he ended up being ok.

Drank
Drink
Drinks
Gulps
7. Choose the word that best completes the following sentence. Firefighter Ryan was so
___________, he tested 50 hydrants and rolled 500 feet of hose.
Loyal
Uncomfortable
Excessive
Ambitious
8. Which word is spelled correctly?
Excesive
Excessive
Acessive
Accessive
9. Choose the answer that is not spelled correctly
Apparatus
Oscillate
Synonym
None of the above
10. Choose the phrase that best completes the sentence: I _______________ in the fire
service for 32 years thus far.
Will be

Have been
Had been
Have seen