IFSTA ESSENTIALS OF FIRE FIGHTING 7
CONCEPT REVIEW GUIDE 2026 RESCUE
OPERATIONS AND FIREGROUND SAFETY
◉ What is carbon monoxide (CO).
Answer: Colorless, odorless, dangerous gas (toxic and flammable)
formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon.
CH5
◉ What does CO do.
Answer: Combines with hemoglobin more than 200x faster than
oxygen does, decreasing the bloods' ability to carry oxygen
CH5
◉ Whats the upper flammable limit (UFL).
Answer: Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite.
Above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich to burn (lacks the
proper quantity of oxygen)
CH5
,◉ What is energy?.
Answer: Capacity to preform work occurs when a force is applies to
an object over a distance or when a substance undergoes a chemical,
biological, or physical transformation.
CH5
◉ Describe chemical flame inhalation.
Answer: Extinguishment of a fire by interruption of the chemical
chain reaction
CH5
◉ What is soluabilty.
Answer: Degree to which a solid, liquid or gas will dissolve in a
solvent (usually water)
CH5
◉ Describe heat.
,Answer: fORM OF ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOTION OF
ATOMS OR MOLECULES WITHIN A FUEL WHICH IS TRANSFERRED
FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE
CH5
◉ Whats an exothermic reaction.
Answer: A reaction or process that releases thermal energy or heat
CH5
◉ Whats potential energy.
Answer: Stored energy possessed by an object that can be released
to perform work at a future time
CH5
◉ What is pyrolysis.
Answer: The chemical decomposition of a solid material by heating.
pyrolysis precedes combustion of a solid fuel
CH5
, ◉ Whats a hydrocarbon.
Answer: Petroleum based organic compound that contains only
hydrogen and carbon; may also be used to describe those materials
in a fuel load which were created using hydrocarbons such as
plastics or synthetic fabrics
CH5
◉ Whats the autoignition temperature? (AIT).
Answer: The lowest temp at which a combustible material ignites in
air without spark or flame
CH5
◉ Describe fire.
Answer: A rapid oxidation process, which is a gas phase chemical
reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying
intensity
CH5
◉ What is matter.
Answer: Anything that occupies space and has mass
CONCEPT REVIEW GUIDE 2026 RESCUE
OPERATIONS AND FIREGROUND SAFETY
◉ What is carbon monoxide (CO).
Answer: Colorless, odorless, dangerous gas (toxic and flammable)
formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon.
CH5
◉ What does CO do.
Answer: Combines with hemoglobin more than 200x faster than
oxygen does, decreasing the bloods' ability to carry oxygen
CH5
◉ Whats the upper flammable limit (UFL).
Answer: Upper limit at which a flammable gas or vapor will ignite.
Above this limit, the gas or vapor is too rich to burn (lacks the
proper quantity of oxygen)
CH5
,◉ What is energy?.
Answer: Capacity to preform work occurs when a force is applies to
an object over a distance or when a substance undergoes a chemical,
biological, or physical transformation.
CH5
◉ Describe chemical flame inhalation.
Answer: Extinguishment of a fire by interruption of the chemical
chain reaction
CH5
◉ What is soluabilty.
Answer: Degree to which a solid, liquid or gas will dissolve in a
solvent (usually water)
CH5
◉ Describe heat.
,Answer: fORM OF ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOTION OF
ATOMS OR MOLECULES WITHIN A FUEL WHICH IS TRANSFERRED
FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE
CH5
◉ Whats an exothermic reaction.
Answer: A reaction or process that releases thermal energy or heat
CH5
◉ Whats potential energy.
Answer: Stored energy possessed by an object that can be released
to perform work at a future time
CH5
◉ What is pyrolysis.
Answer: The chemical decomposition of a solid material by heating.
pyrolysis precedes combustion of a solid fuel
CH5
, ◉ Whats a hydrocarbon.
Answer: Petroleum based organic compound that contains only
hydrogen and carbon; may also be used to describe those materials
in a fuel load which were created using hydrocarbons such as
plastics or synthetic fabrics
CH5
◉ Whats the autoignition temperature? (AIT).
Answer: The lowest temp at which a combustible material ignites in
air without spark or flame
CH5
◉ Describe fire.
Answer: A rapid oxidation process, which is a gas phase chemical
reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in varying
intensity
CH5
◉ What is matter.
Answer: Anything that occupies space and has mass
