CPS Situational Judgment Scenarios 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are assigned to ventilation but the roof shows signs of sagging. What should you do?
- Proceed because you were ordered to
- Communicate the unsafe condition to command and await direction (Correct answer)
- Cut the hole quickly before it collapses
- Leave the roof without telling anyone
Correct answer: Communicate the unsafe condition to command and await direction
Reporting structural hazards lets command adjust tactics and keeps crews safe.
Question 2: A citizen pleads for you to re-enter a fully involved house to retrieve a pet. What is the best response?
- Re-enter immediately to calm them
- Explain that conditions are too dangerous and you cannot risk a life for a pet (Correct answer)
- Send a single firefighter in alone
- Promise to go in once the fire is out, even if unsafe
Correct answer: Explain that conditions are too dangerous and you cannot risk a life for a pet
Firefighter safety takes priority; risking a life for property or a pet in untenable conditions is not justified.
Question 3: During a long incident, you become separated from your crew in heavy smoke. What is your immediate action?
- Keep searching for the exit silently
- Activate your PASS device and radio a Mayday (Correct answer)
- Remove your mask to see better
- Wait quietly to conserve air
Correct answer: Activate your PASS device and radio a Mayday
Declaring a Mayday and activating your PASS device gives rescuers the best chance to locate you.
Question 4: You respond to a medical call and the patient refuses treatment but is clearly disoriented. What should you do?
- Leave since they refused
- Attempt to assess capacity and involve EMS/medical control before leaving (Correct answer)
- Force treatment on them
- Document the refusal and depart immediately
Correct answer: Attempt to assess capacity and involve EMS/medical control before leaving
A disoriented patient may lack capacity to refuse, so you must escalate to medical control.
Question 5: Two assignments come in at once and your engine can only take one. How should the decision be made?
- Pick the closer call automatically
- Let the incident commander/dispatch prioritize based on life safety (Correct answer)
- Split your crew between both
- Respond to whichever the crew prefers
Correct answer: Let the incident commander/dispatch prioritize based on life safety
Prioritization through command ensures resources go to the highest life-safety need.
Question 6: A senior firefighter tells you to take a shortcut that violates a safety SOP. What is the best action?
- Follow it because of their rank
- Decline and follow the SOP, explaining your reason (Correct answer)
- Report them before doing anything
- Do it but document it later
Correct answer: Decline and follow the SOP, explaining your reason
Safety procedures must be followed regardless of who suggests bypassing them.
Question 7: You smell natural gas while investigating an odor complaint inside a home. What should you do first?
- Turn on the lights to see better
- Avoid creating sparks, evacuate occupants, and ventilate (Correct answer)
- Search for the source with a flashlight near outlets
- Use the home's phone to call dispatch
Correct answer: Avoid creating sparks, evacuate occupants, and ventilate
Eliminating ignition sources and evacuating prevents a gas explosion.
CPS Situational Judgment Scenarios 3
You are assigned to ventilation but the roof shows signs of sagging.
What should you do?