Red Card Emergency Preparedness & Response 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The term 'trigger point' on a wildland fire refers to:
- The moisture level at which fuel ignites
- A pre-identified location or condition that initiates a predetermined action such as retreat (Correct answer)
- The point at which an aerial attack becomes ineffective
- The wind speed that causes a fire to transition from surface to crown
Correct answer: A pre-identified location or condition that initiates a predetermined action such as retreat
Trigger points are pre-planned indicators—a location, time, or observable condition—that signal when a crew must execute its escape plan without waiting for orders.
Question 2: A firefighter assigned to monitor the fire perimeter notices the fire is producing short whirlwinds and dust devils near the flank. This indicates:
- Adequate air tanker coverage on the head of the fire
- Unstable atmospheric conditions that can rapidly change fire behavior (Correct answer)
- The fire is transitioning from surface to ground fire
- Humidity is rising and fire activity will soon decrease
Correct answer: Unstable atmospheric conditions that can rapidly change fire behavior
Whirlwinds and dust devils are surface manifestations of atmospheric instability, which can lead to erratic wind shifts, spotting, and sudden increases in fire intensity.
Question 3: Under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), span of control for a supervisor in a wildland fire incident should ideally be:
- 1 to 3 subordinates
- 3 to 7 subordinates (Correct answer)
- 8 to 12 subordinates
- 15 to 20 subordinates
Correct answer: 3 to 7 subordinates
NIMS recommends a span of control between 3 and 7, with 5 being optimal, to ensure supervisors can effectively manage and communicate with their subordinates.
Question 4: Which action BEST describes the purpose of a Post-Incident Review (PIR) or After-Action Review (AAR) following an emergency event?
- Assign blame and document disciplinary actions
- Identify what worked, what did not, and apply lessons to improve future performance (Correct answer)
- Satisfy insurance and liability documentation requirements
- Certify personnel hours for hazard pay claims
Correct answer: Identify what worked, what did not, and apply lessons to improve future performance
AARs are learning tools designed to capture lessons from both successes and failures so that future operations become safer and more effective.
Question 5: When establishing communications at the start of a shift on a wildland fire, a firefighter should FIRST:
- Test the radio on all available frequencies simultaneously
- Confirm the designated tactical channel, verify radio function, and establish check-in intervals (Correct answer)
- Wait until the Operations Section Chief issues a communications plan
- Share the radio with the crew supervisor to conserve battery life
Correct answer: Confirm the designated tactical channel, verify radio function, and establish check-in intervals
Confirming the tactical channel, testing the radio, and setting check-in intervals ensures reliable communication is in place before hazardous work begins.
Question 6: A crew experiences a burn-over and two members sustain burns. After ensuring personal safety, the NEXT priority is:
- Continue suppression to prevent further fire spread
- Provide immediate first aid and initiate medical evacuation procedures (Correct answer)
- Document the incident on ICS Form 214
- Return all equipment to the staging area
Correct answer: Provide immediate first aid and initiate medical evacuation procedures
Immediate first aid and activating the medical evacuation chain saves lives and is the top priority after personal safety is secured following a burn-over.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 'two in, two out' rule as applied to wildland fire operations in structure protection?
- Two crews must be staged for every structure being defended
- If two firefighters enter a hazardous area, two standby rescuers must be ready outside (Correct answer)
- Two escape routes must be identified for every structure assigned
- At least two supervisors must sign off before defensive posture is taken
Correct answer: If two firefighters enter a hazardous area, two standby rescuers must be ready outside
The 'two in, two out' rule requires that for every two firefighters entering a hazardous environment, two qualified rescuers stand ready outside to perform a rescue if needed.
Red Card Emergency Preparedness & Response 5
The term 'trigger point' on a wildland fire refers to: