IFSTA ESSENTIALS OF FIRE FIGHTING 7 EXAM
PREPARATION PACK 2026 KEY CONCEPTS
AND REVISION NOTES
◉ Chain of Command.
Answer: Order of rank and authority in the fire and emergency
services.
◉ Organizational Principles.
Answer: Division of labor
Unity of command
Discipline
Span of control
◉ Unity of Command.
Answer: Reporting to only one supervisor, following chain of
command
◉ Span of Control.
Answer: Officer's ability to effectively supervise or manage only a
certain number of individuals or groups, typically 3-7 firefighter
, ◉ Division of Labor.
Answer: Division of work into a number of separate tasks performed
by different workers.
◉ Engine Company.
Answer: Deploys hose lines for fire attack and exposure protection
◉ Truck Company.
Answer: Performs forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation,
salvage and overhaul and utilities control, provides access to upper
levels of a structure. Mainly uses ladders.
◉ Rescue squad/company.
Answer: Searches for and removes victims from areas of danger or
entrapment and may perform technical rescues.
◉ Brush Company.
Answer: Extinguishes wildland fires and protects structures in the
wildland/urban interface
◉ HAZMAT company.
Answer: Responds to and mitigates hazardous materials incidents
PREPARATION PACK 2026 KEY CONCEPTS
AND REVISION NOTES
◉ Chain of Command.
Answer: Order of rank and authority in the fire and emergency
services.
◉ Organizational Principles.
Answer: Division of labor
Unity of command
Discipline
Span of control
◉ Unity of Command.
Answer: Reporting to only one supervisor, following chain of
command
◉ Span of Control.
Answer: Officer's ability to effectively supervise or manage only a
certain number of individuals or groups, typically 3-7 firefighter
, ◉ Division of Labor.
Answer: Division of work into a number of separate tasks performed
by different workers.
◉ Engine Company.
Answer: Deploys hose lines for fire attack and exposure protection
◉ Truck Company.
Answer: Performs forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation,
salvage and overhaul and utilities control, provides access to upper
levels of a structure. Mainly uses ladders.
◉ Rescue squad/company.
Answer: Searches for and removes victims from areas of danger or
entrapment and may perform technical rescues.
◉ Brush Company.
Answer: Extinguishes wildland fires and protects structures in the
wildland/urban interface
◉ HAZMAT company.
Answer: Responds to and mitigates hazardous materials incidents
