S-290 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Name the 5 weather factors that effect fire behavior. (WARPT). Answer: Windspeed
and direction Atmospheric stability Relative Humidity Precipitation Temperature
● Name the 5 topographic factors that affect fire behavior. Answer: Elevation Position on
slope Aspect Shape of the country Steepness of slope
● Name the 7 fuel factors that effect fire behavior. Answer: Fuel loading Size and shape
Compactness Horizontal continuity Vertical continuity Chemical content Fuel moisture and
Fuel temperature
● Which of the three components of fire enviornment, changes most rapidly over time
and space?. Answer: Weather
● Which of the three components of the fire enviornment is the least variable?. Answer:
Topography
● Which fuel characteristics vary rapidly over time and space?. Answer: Fuel moisture
and Fuel temperature
● The form of heat transfer that has the most influence on the rate of spread in a
ground fire is.... Answer: Conduction
● These fires are difficult to extinguish and have smoldering or creeping fire behavior.
Answer: Ground Fires
● What form of heat transfer has the most influence on rate of spread in a backing
fire?. Answer: Radiation
● 3 ways convection energy can spread a fire. Answer: 1. Cause spot fires 2. Preheat
fuels through air and increased direct flame contact 3. Increase the amount of oxygen
introduced on a fire
● What form of heat transfer has the most influence on tree limbs. Answer: Convection
● List three forms of mass transport of firebrands on wildland fires. Answer: 1.
Convection 2. Wind 3. Gravity
, ● Give 3 examples of fire brands affected by gravity. Answer: 1. pine cones 2. yuccas 3.
logs
● Three requirements for long range spotting. Answer: 1. Strong convective influence to
create fire brands 2. High winds to spread the fire brands 3. A receptive fuel bed
● Define Flamelength. Answer: The distant measured from the tip of the flame to the middle
of the flaming zone at base of fire.
● Where do fire behavior predictions describe the average flame length?. Answer: Head
of the fire/flamefront
● Flame length is a visual indicator of. Answer: Fireline intensity/ BTU per foot per second
● 6 Primary fuel factors that affect ignition of a wildland fire. Answer: 1. moisture 2. size
and 3. shape 4. arrangement 5. compactness 6. temperature
● BTU per foot per second, rate of energy release, indicated by flame length, and
represents the ead output at the flame front is..... Answer: Fireline Inensity
● A chain is. Answer: 66 feet
● 1 Mile equals how many chains. Answer: 80 chains
● How many square chains in an acre. Answer: 10 sq. chains
● Fireline intensity is affected by.... Answer: 1. Fuel loading 2. Compaction 3. Arrangement
4. Fuel moisture 5. Rate of spread
● The factors that affect rate of spread are.... Answer: 1. Changes in fuel type 2. wind
speed 3. steepness of slope
● A surface fire that has a head and is spreading with the wind or slope is called.
Answer: Running fire
● You observed a convection column bend over as it rises, list 2 fire behavior
concerns. Answer: 1. Spot fire potential 2. High winds aloft can surface and create wind shifts
● What 3 things can convection from a fire do. Answer: 1. Create cumulus clouds 2.
Change wind direction 3. Affects stability
● Humid climates usually have __________ temperatures during the night than do dry
climates. Answer: Higher
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Name the 5 weather factors that effect fire behavior. (WARPT). Answer: Windspeed
and direction Atmospheric stability Relative Humidity Precipitation Temperature
● Name the 5 topographic factors that affect fire behavior. Answer: Elevation Position on
slope Aspect Shape of the country Steepness of slope
● Name the 7 fuel factors that effect fire behavior. Answer: Fuel loading Size and shape
Compactness Horizontal continuity Vertical continuity Chemical content Fuel moisture and
Fuel temperature
● Which of the three components of fire enviornment, changes most rapidly over time
and space?. Answer: Weather
● Which of the three components of the fire enviornment is the least variable?. Answer:
Topography
● Which fuel characteristics vary rapidly over time and space?. Answer: Fuel moisture
and Fuel temperature
● The form of heat transfer that has the most influence on the rate of spread in a
ground fire is.... Answer: Conduction
● These fires are difficult to extinguish and have smoldering or creeping fire behavior.
Answer: Ground Fires
● What form of heat transfer has the most influence on rate of spread in a backing
fire?. Answer: Radiation
● 3 ways convection energy can spread a fire. Answer: 1. Cause spot fires 2. Preheat
fuels through air and increased direct flame contact 3. Increase the amount of oxygen
introduced on a fire
● What form of heat transfer has the most influence on tree limbs. Answer: Convection
● List three forms of mass transport of firebrands on wildland fires. Answer: 1.
Convection 2. Wind 3. Gravity
, ● Give 3 examples of fire brands affected by gravity. Answer: 1. pine cones 2. yuccas 3.
logs
● Three requirements for long range spotting. Answer: 1. Strong convective influence to
create fire brands 2. High winds to spread the fire brands 3. A receptive fuel bed
● Define Flamelength. Answer: The distant measured from the tip of the flame to the middle
of the flaming zone at base of fire.
● Where do fire behavior predictions describe the average flame length?. Answer: Head
of the fire/flamefront
● Flame length is a visual indicator of. Answer: Fireline intensity/ BTU per foot per second
● 6 Primary fuel factors that affect ignition of a wildland fire. Answer: 1. moisture 2. size
and 3. shape 4. arrangement 5. compactness 6. temperature
● BTU per foot per second, rate of energy release, indicated by flame length, and
represents the ead output at the flame front is..... Answer: Fireline Inensity
● A chain is. Answer: 66 feet
● 1 Mile equals how many chains. Answer: 80 chains
● How many square chains in an acre. Answer: 10 sq. chains
● Fireline intensity is affected by.... Answer: 1. Fuel loading 2. Compaction 3. Arrangement
4. Fuel moisture 5. Rate of spread
● The factors that affect rate of spread are.... Answer: 1. Changes in fuel type 2. wind
speed 3. steepness of slope
● A surface fire that has a head and is spreading with the wind or slope is called.
Answer: Running fire
● You observed a convection column bend over as it rises, list 2 fire behavior
concerns. Answer: 1. Spot fire potential 2. High winds aloft can surface and create wind shifts
● What 3 things can convection from a fire do. Answer: 1. Create cumulus clouds 2.
Change wind direction 3. Affects stability
● Humid climates usually have __________ temperatures during the night than do dry
climates. Answer: Higher
