S-130 WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER
TRAINING EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWERS 2026
List the 18 watch outs - ANSWERS1. Fire not scouted and sized up
2. In country not seen in daylight
3. safety zones and escape routes not identified
4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior
5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards
6. Instructions and assignments not clear
7. No communication link with crew members and supervisors
8. Constructing line without a safe anchor point
9. Building fireline downhill with fire below
10. Attempting frontal assault on fire
11. Unburned fuel between you and the fire
12. Cannot see main fire; not in contact with someone who can
13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below
14. Weather becoming hotter and drier
15. Wind increases and/or changes direction
16. Getting frequent spot fires across line
17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult
18. Taking a nap near fireline
List 10 Standard Firefighting Orders - ANSWERS1. Keep informed on weather
conditions and forecast
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior or the fire
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them known
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger
6. Be alert, keep calm, think clearly, and act decisively
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining
forces
8. Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood
9. Maintain control of you forces at all times
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first
Identify nine parts of a fire - ANSWERS(1) Origin, (2) Head, (3) Flank, (4) Rear/Heel, (5)
Perimeter, (6) Finger, (7) Pocket, (8) Island, (9) Spot Fire
Orgin - ANSWERSThe location where the fire started
, Head - ANSWERSShows the direction in which the fire is burning. This is the hottest
and most active part of the fire
Flank - ANSWERSSides of the fire, parallel to the main direction of spread. May have
active fire, but not as hot as the head of the fire.
Rear/Heel - ANSWERSOpposite the head of the fire and burning less vigorously, if at
all. Often near the fire origin.
Perimeter - ANSWERSBoundary of the fire or fire edge. May not have active fire on
some portions.
Finger - ANSWERSAn area, usually a narrow strip, that burns away from the main part
of the fire. Could be dangerous if personnel working the fire are flanked by a finger.
Pocket - ANSWERSUnburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Island - ANSWERSArea of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter.
Spot Fire - ANSWERSBurning area outside the main fire perimeter, often caused by
wind blown embers or rolling debris.
Name nine fire behavior terms - ANSWERS(1) Smoldering, (2) Creeping, (3) Running,
(4) Backing, (5) Spotting, (6) Torching, (7) Crowning, (8) Blowup
Smoldering - ANSWERSFire burning without flame and barely spreading
Creeping - ANSWERSFire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running - ANSWERSFire spreading rapidly with a well-defined head.
Backing - ANSWERSFire moving away from the head downhill, or against the wind
Spotting - ANSWERSSparks or embers produced by the main fire that are carried by
winds or convection columns.
Torching - ANSWERSFire burning on the surface, but periodically igniting the crown of
a single or small group of trees or shrubs before returning to the surface. Although
sometimes confused with crowning this behavior is not as serious as a crown fire.
Crowning - ANSWERSFire that advances across tops of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of surface fire. High fire intensity and high forward rate of spread. Use
crown fire or crowning with care because it describes a very serious fire situation.
Blowup - ANSWERSSudden increase in fire intensity or rate of spread of a fire sufficient
to preclude direct control or to upset existing suppression plans.
TRAINING EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWERS 2026
List the 18 watch outs - ANSWERS1. Fire not scouted and sized up
2. In country not seen in daylight
3. safety zones and escape routes not identified
4. Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior
5. Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards
6. Instructions and assignments not clear
7. No communication link with crew members and supervisors
8. Constructing line without a safe anchor point
9. Building fireline downhill with fire below
10. Attempting frontal assault on fire
11. Unburned fuel between you and the fire
12. Cannot see main fire; not in contact with someone who can
13. On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below
14. Weather becoming hotter and drier
15. Wind increases and/or changes direction
16. Getting frequent spot fires across line
17. Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult
18. Taking a nap near fireline
List 10 Standard Firefighting Orders - ANSWERS1. Keep informed on weather
conditions and forecast
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior or the fire
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them known
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger
6. Be alert, keep calm, think clearly, and act decisively
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining
forces
8. Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood
9. Maintain control of you forces at all times
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first
Identify nine parts of a fire - ANSWERS(1) Origin, (2) Head, (3) Flank, (4) Rear/Heel, (5)
Perimeter, (6) Finger, (7) Pocket, (8) Island, (9) Spot Fire
Orgin - ANSWERSThe location where the fire started
, Head - ANSWERSShows the direction in which the fire is burning. This is the hottest
and most active part of the fire
Flank - ANSWERSSides of the fire, parallel to the main direction of spread. May have
active fire, but not as hot as the head of the fire.
Rear/Heel - ANSWERSOpposite the head of the fire and burning less vigorously, if at
all. Often near the fire origin.
Perimeter - ANSWERSBoundary of the fire or fire edge. May not have active fire on
some portions.
Finger - ANSWERSAn area, usually a narrow strip, that burns away from the main part
of the fire. Could be dangerous if personnel working the fire are flanked by a finger.
Pocket - ANSWERSUnburned area between the main fire and any fingers.
Island - ANSWERSArea of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter.
Spot Fire - ANSWERSBurning area outside the main fire perimeter, often caused by
wind blown embers or rolling debris.
Name nine fire behavior terms - ANSWERS(1) Smoldering, (2) Creeping, (3) Running,
(4) Backing, (5) Spotting, (6) Torching, (7) Crowning, (8) Blowup
Smoldering - ANSWERSFire burning without flame and barely spreading
Creeping - ANSWERSFire burning with a low flame and spreading slowly
Running - ANSWERSFire spreading rapidly with a well-defined head.
Backing - ANSWERSFire moving away from the head downhill, or against the wind
Spotting - ANSWERSSparks or embers produced by the main fire that are carried by
winds or convection columns.
Torching - ANSWERSFire burning on the surface, but periodically igniting the crown of
a single or small group of trees or shrubs before returning to the surface. Although
sometimes confused with crowning this behavior is not as serious as a crown fire.
Crowning - ANSWERSFire that advances across tops of trees or shrubs more or less
independent of surface fire. High fire intensity and high forward rate of spread. Use
crown fire or crowning with care because it describes a very serious fire situation.
Blowup - ANSWERSSudden increase in fire intensity or rate of spread of a fire sufficient
to preclude direct control or to upset existing suppression plans.
