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 of the 18 Watch Out Situations involves working on a fire with unresolved line construction ahead?
Answer: Watch Out #11: Unburned fuel between you and the fire
Watch Out Situation #11 warns against unburned fuel between you and the fire, as that fuel can ignite and cut off your position without warning.
How does relative humidity (RH) below 15% affect wildland fire hazard?
Answer: It indicates critically dry conditions that increase ignition potential and rate of spread
RH below 15% is a key threshold for critical fire weather; fuels cure rapidly, ignition is easier, and fire spreads aggressively in all fuel types.
A firefighter smells burning pitch and sees resin boiling on tree trunks near the fire. What does this indicate?
Answer: Extreme heat is being generated, indicating potential for crown fire torching
Boiling resin and intense pitch smell indicate trees are being subjected to extreme radiant heat, a precursor to individual tree torching and potential crown fire spread.
What is the primary purpose of a Safety Zone in wildland firefighting?
Answer: A pre-designated area where firefighters can safely deploy fire shelters or survive without shelter
A Safety Zone is an area large enough and clear enough of fuels that firefighters can survive a fire passage without deploying fire shelters, providing the last line of defense.
During hazard assessment, which combination of factors represents the most dangerous fire weather scenario?
Answer: High temperature, low humidity, strong erratic winds
High temperature combined with low humidity dries fuels rapidly, and strong erratic winds drive fast-moving, unpredictable fire spread — the classic extreme fire weather combination.
What hazard does 'squirrelly' or erratic wind behavior present on a wildland fire?
Answer: Unpredictable wind shifts can cause rapid changes in fire direction, trapping crews
Erratic winds create sudden, unpredictable fire direction changes that can cut off escape routes and entrap firefighters who were positioned safely moments before.
Which of the following actions best demonstrates proper hazard identification when a crew arrives at a new assignment?
Answer: Conduct a thorough size-up including fuel, weather, terrain, and fire behavior before committing resources
A complete size-up assessing fuel, weather, terrain, and current fire behavior must be completed before crews engage, ensuring hazards are identified and LCES is established.