FCTC Situational Judgment and Logic 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You and a partner are conducting a primary search and encounter a locked interior door in a smoke-filled building. The most logical action is to:
- Skip the room and move on
- Force the door and search the room (Correct answer)
- Return to the captain for instructions
- Mark the door and exit the building
Correct answer: Force the door and search the room
A locked door in a primary search must be forced open because a trapped victim could be on the other side.
Question 2: You are assigned fire watch duty during an overnight standby. You feel very drowsy. What is the most appropriate action?
- Take a brief nap since the risk is low overnight
- Notify your supervisor and request a temporary replacement (Correct answer)
- Drink coffee and continue the watch alone
- Ask a civilian on site to watch for a few minutes
Correct answer: Notify your supervisor and request a temporary replacement
Notifying a supervisor ensures fire watch coverage is maintained safely without putting the duty at risk.
Question 3: A crew member confides in you that they have been drinking before the shift. What is the most responsible action?
- Keep the confidence and monitor them during the shift
- Report the situation to the officer in charge immediately (Correct answer)
- Confront the crew member in front of the team
- Do nothing since they seem fine
Correct answer: Report the situation to the officer in charge immediately
An impaired firefighter is a danger to the public, the crew, and themselves; immediate reporting to the officer is required.
Question 4: You are part of a team advancing a hose line when you realize the nozzle operator has it on the wrong setting for the type of fire. The most effective response is to:
- Shout loudly so everyone hears the correction
- Alert the nozzle operator quickly and correctly with clear communication (Correct answer)
- Take the nozzle away and fix it yourself
- Continue and let the incident commander decide
Correct answer: Alert the nozzle operator quickly and correctly with clear communication
Clear, direct communication with the nozzle operator is fastest and most effective without disrupting crew coordination.
Question 5: You respond to a reported gas leak. Upon arrival, you smell gas and see someone using a cell phone near the building. What do you do first?
- Call dispatch on your radio
- Order bystanders away and establish a perimeter (Correct answer)
- Enter the building to locate the leak source
- Knock on the building door to warn occupants
Correct answer: Order bystanders away and establish a perimeter
Removing ignition sources and establishing a perimeter is the immediate priority to prevent explosion.
Question 6: While off duty, you witness a neighbor's house fire beginning. You do not have any equipment. What is the most appropriate first action?
- Enter the house to save anyone inside
- Call 911 and warn occupants from outside (Correct answer)
- Wait until on-duty personnel arrive
- Use a garden hose to try to extinguish the fire
Correct answer: Call 911 and warn occupants from outside
Calling 911 brings trained, equipped responders while warning occupants from outside maximizes safety without self-endangerment.
Question 7: During a multi-company operation, another company's lieutenant gives you a direct order that conflicts with your captain's instructions. What should you do?
- Follow the other lieutenant's order since they outrank you
- Follow your captain's instructions and inform your captain of the conflict (Correct answer)
- Do nothing until the conflict is resolved
- Decide independently which order makes more sense
Correct answer: Follow your captain's instructions and inform your captain of the conflict
Chain of command requires following your direct supervisor's instructions and reporting conflicts upward for resolution.
FCTC Situational Judgment and Logic 3
You and a partner are conducting a primary search and encounter a locked interior door in a smoke-filled building.
The most logical action is to: