CPS Situational Judgment Scenarios 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a structure fire, your captain orders an immediate evacuation over the radio while you are searching a bedroom. What should you do?
- Finish searching the room first, then leave
- Exit the building immediately by the nearest safe route (Correct answer)
- Radio to ask why the order was given
- Continue only if you believe a victim is present
Correct answer: Exit the building immediately by the nearest safe route
Evacuation orders are non-negotiable and must be obeyed immediately to ensure firefighter safety.
Question 2: You notice a fellow firefighter showing signs of heat exhaustion during overhaul. What is the best first action?
- Tell them to push through the shift
- Report it to the officer and get them to rehab/medical (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if symptoms worsen
- Give them your water and continue working
Correct answer: Report it to the officer and get them to rehab/medical
Recognizing and reporting medical distress promptly protects crew health and safety.
Question 3: A bystander at a scene begins recording video and interfering with the hose line. How should you respond?
- Confront the bystander aggressively
- Calmly ask them to step back and let law enforcement manage the crowd (Correct answer)
- Ignore them and keep working
- Stop work until they leave
Correct answer: Calmly ask them to step back and let law enforcement manage the crowd
Maintaining a professional demeanor and using law enforcement for crowd control keeps the scene safe.
Question 4: You arrive first at a vehicle accident and smell gasoline. What is your priority?
- Begin extricating victims immediately
- Establish scene safety and eliminate ignition sources before patient care (Correct answer)
- Direct traffic around the scene
- Search for the cause of the leak
Correct answer: Establish scene safety and eliminate ignition sources before patient care
Scene safety and hazard control come before patient care to prevent fire or explosion.
Question 5: Your crew disagrees with the incident commander's tactical decision. What is the appropriate action?
- Refuse the order publicly
- Follow the order and raise concerns through proper channels afterward (Correct answer)
- Carry out your own plan instead
- Discuss it loudly on the fireground
Correct answer: Follow the order and raise concerns through proper channels afterward
Following the chain of command on scene and addressing concerns later preserves safety and discipline.
Question 6: While responding, you realize the address dispatched seems incorrect based on the smoke you see. What should you do?
- Drive to the smoke without telling anyone
- Notify dispatch and the officer of the discrepancy and confirm the correct location (Correct answer)
- Continue to the original address regardless
- Stop and wait for clarification
Correct answer: Notify dispatch and the officer of the discrepancy and confirm the correct location
Communicating the discrepancy ensures resources are directed accurately and quickly.
Question 7: A probationary firefighter repeatedly skips a required PPE check. What is the best response?
- Ignore it since they are new
- Correct them and ensure the check is done, then inform the officer if it continues (Correct answer)
- Report them for termination immediately
- Do the check for them every time
Correct answer: Correct them and ensure the check is done, then inform the officer if it continues
Coaching on safety procedures and escalating persistent issues protects the whole crew.
CPS Situational Judgment Scenarios 2
During a structure fire, your captain orders an immediate evacuation over the radio while you are searching a bedroom.
What should you do?