S-130 Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
Origin - Answer -The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the
fire spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head - Answer -The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread
(ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming
speed. Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers - Answer -long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a
fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly
in light fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock
outcroppings
Pocket - Answer -The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
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,Perimeter - Answer -the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside
edge—of the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear - Answer -or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks - Answer -The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main
direction of fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are
looking from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands - Answer -Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover - Answer -Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier - Answer -Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the
spread of wildland fires.
Contain - Answer -To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected to
check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
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,The Green - Answer -Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color,
adjacent to but not involved in a wildland fire.
The Black - Answer -Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) - Answer -Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain - Answer -A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Creeping - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Running - Answer -Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing - Answer -Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or against
the wind
Spotting - Answer -When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried
by winds or a convection column
Torching - Answer -Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of
trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
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, Crowning - Answer -When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or
less independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up - Answer -Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the
fire. A flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing
control plans.
Blowups - Answer -Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to
prevent or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback
to existing suppression plans.
Mop-Up - Answer -Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines,
felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to
make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.
Air Tanker - Answer -Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during an
air attack.
Classification of Fire A-G - Answer -Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
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Origin - Answer -The area where the fire started. It is also the point from which the
fire spreads, depending on the fuels present and the effects of wind and slope.
Head - Answer -The part of a wildland fire with the greatest forward rate of spread
(ROS). The head of a fire often burns intensely and may move with alarming
speed. Some large fires may have multiple heads.
Fingers - Answer -long, narrow strips of fire that extend from the main body of a
fire.
They form:
-When a fire burns into mixed fuels; slowing in heavy fuel, but spreading quickly
in light fuels
-Due to variations in terrain or wind direction
-When the head is split by natural features such as fields, water, or rock
outcroppings
Pocket - Answer -The unburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
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,Perimeter - Answer -the outer boundary—or the distance around the outside
edge—of the burning or burned area. Also commonly called the fire edge
Rear - Answer -or heel, of a wildland fire is the end opposite the head—that is,
relatively closer to the point of origin than to the head.
Burns with low intensity
Has a low rate of spread (ROS)
Is generally easier to control than the head
Flanks - Answer -The sides of a wildland fire, roughly parallel to the main
direction of fire spread. Flanks are identified as either left or right as you are
looking from the heel of a fire toward the head.
Islands - Answer -Unburned areas inside the fire perimeter. Because they are
unburned potential fuels, patrol them frequently and check for spot fires.
Slopover - Answer -Fire edge that crosses a control line. Also called Breakover.
Natural Barrier - Answer -Any area where lack of flammable material obstructs the
spread of wildland fires.
Contain - Answer -To take suppression action that can reasonably be expected to
check the fire spread under prevailing and predicted conditions. Also called
Containment.
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,The Green - Answer -Area of unburned fuels, not necessarily green in color,
adjacent to but not involved in a wildland fire.
The Black - Answer -Area already burned by a wildland fire. Also called Burn.
Rate of Speed (ROS) - Answer -Fire spread is simply the movement of the fire.
1 ft. (0.3 m)/minute = 1 chain/hour
10 ft. (3 m)/minute = 10 chains/hour
Chain - Answer -A surveying term and equals 66 ft.
Smoldering - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely
spreading
Creeping - Answer -Fire is one that burns without a flame and is barely spreading
Running - Answer -Fire is one that spreads rapidly with a well-defined head
Backing - Answer -Where the fire moves away from the head, downhill, or against
the wind
Spotting - Answer -When sparks or embers produced by the main fire are carried
by winds or a convection column
Torching - Answer -Periodically ignites the crown of a single or small group of
trees or shrubs before returning to the surface
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, Crowning - Answer -When it advances across the tops of trees or shrubs more or
less independent of the surface fire
Flare-Up - Answer -Any sudden acceleration in the ROS or intensification of the
fire. A flare-up is of relativity short duration and does not radically change existing
control plans.
Blowups - Answer -Occurs when there's a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to
prevent or rule out direct control of the fire. A blowup will most likely be a setback
to existing suppression plans.
Mop-Up - Answer -Extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines,
felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to
make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.
Air Tanker - Answer -Fixed-wing aircraft used to drop retardant or water during an
air attack.
Classification of Fire A-G - Answer -Class A—0 to 0.2 acres (0 to 0.1 ha)
Class B—0.3 to 9.9 acres (0.2 to 4 ha)
Class C—10 to 99.9 acres (4.1 to 40.4 ha)
Class D—100 - 299.9 acres (40.5 to 121.4 ha)
Class E—300 to 999.9 acres (121.5 to 404 ha)
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