Hazard Identification & Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real RED CARD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hazard Identification & Assessment flashcards as text
Which condition is most indicative of an impending blowup on a wildland fire?
Answer: Rapid increase in fire intensity with column collapse
A collapsing smoke column causes air to rush inward and downward, dramatically increasing fire intensity and rate of spread in a blowup.
What does a 'chimney' terrain feature represent on a wildland fire?
Answer: A drainage or gully that channels fire rapidly uphill
Chimneys are steep drainages or gullies that act as natural pathways for fire to travel rapidly uphill, creating extreme danger for firefighters above.
When assessing fuel moisture, which reading indicates critically dry fine fuels most prone to rapid fire spread?
Answer: 5% moisture content
Fine fuel moisture below 8% is considered critically dry; 5% indicates extremely dangerous conditions with potential for explosive fire behavior.
What hazard does a 'saddle' in ridge terrain present during a wildland fire?
Answer: It acts as a wind funnel, accelerating fire through the gap
Saddles channel and accelerate wind through the low point in a ridge, dramatically increasing fire spread rate and intensity on the downwind side.
Which of the following is a LCES component that firefighters must establish before engaging a wildland fire?
Answer: Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones
LCES stands for Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, and Safety zones — the four essential elements that must be in place before firefighting begins.
A firefighter notices the fire's smoke column is leaning sharply toward their position. What does this indicate?
Answer: Wind is pushing the fire toward the firefighter's location
A smoke column leaning toward you means the wind — and fire — are moving in your direction, requiring immediate reassessment of escape routes and safety zones.
Which environmental cue signals that a spot fire has started ahead of the main fire perimeter?
Answer: Smoldering debris or flames appearing in unburned fuel beyond the fire edge
Spot fires occur when embers are carried ahead of the main fire and ignite in unburned fuels, creating new ignition points that can cut off escape routes.