CPS CPS Firefighter Test Fire Science and Firefighting Principles 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the three elements that make up the fire triangle?
- Heat, smoke, and fuel
- Oxygen, fuel, and heat (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide, water, and heat
- Nitrogen, oxygen, and flame
Correct answer: Oxygen, fuel, and heat
The fire triangle consists of oxygen, fuel, and heat — removing any one of these three elements will extinguish the fire.
Question 2: Which class of fire involves ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth?
- Class A (Correct answer)
- Class B
- Class C
- Class D
Correct answer: Class A
Class A fires involve ordinary combustible solids like wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and most plastics.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of ventilation during a structure fire?
- To increase the fire's intensity for faster suppression
- To remove heat, smoke, and toxic gases (Correct answer)
- To add fresh oxygen so firefighters can breathe without SCBA
- To cool the exterior walls of the building
Correct answer: To remove heat, smoke, and toxic gases
Ventilation removes heat, smoke, and toxic gases to improve visibility and survivability for occupants and interior crews.
Question 4: What does 'flashover' refer to in firefighting?
- When a fire extinguisher's safety pin is removed
- The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible materials in a room (Correct answer)
- A brief brightening of flames at peak combustion
- The reflection of fire light off a wet surface
Correct answer: The near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible materials in a room
Flashover is the near-simultaneous ignition of all exposed combustible materials in an enclosure when radiant heat reaches ignition temperature.
Question 5: What type of heat transfer occurs when heat moves through direct contact within a solid material?
- Convection
- Radiation
- Conduction (Correct answer)
- Combustion
Correct answer: Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct molecular contact within or between solid materials.
Question 6: Which class of fire involves flammable liquids such as gasoline and oil?
- Class A
- Class B (Correct answer)
- Class C
- Class K
Correct answer: Class B
Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, paint, and solvents.
CPS CPS Firefighter Test Fire Science and Firefighting Principles 1
What are the three elements that make up the fire triangle?