Red Card Fire Suppression Techniques 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct order of priorities when establishing a LCES system at an incident?
- Escape routes, Lookouts, Communications, Safety zones
- Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones (Correct answer)
- Communications, Lookouts, Safety zones, Escape routes
- Safety zones, Escape routes, Lookouts, Communications
Correct answer: Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones
LCES stands for Lookouts, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones — in that order, establishing each element before firefighters engage.
Question 2: Which type of retardant is typically dropped by air tankers ahead of a wildland fire to slow its spread?
- Plain water with blue dye for visibility
- Long-term retardant containing ammonium phosphate (Correct answer)
- Foam concentrate undiluted
- Compressed air mixed with water vapor
Correct answer: Long-term retardant containing ammonium phosphate
Long-term retardants like Phos-Chek contain ammonium phosphate, which chemically inhibits combustion and remains effective after water evaporates.
Question 3: What is the recommended action if a firefighter encounters a snag (standing dead tree) adjacent to the fireline?
- Immediately fell it across the fireline as a barrier
- Avoid working directly beneath it and flag or fell it if safe (Correct answer)
- Climb it to use as a lookout position
- Dig a trench around its base to protect roots
Correct answer: Avoid working directly beneath it and flag or fell it if safe
Snags are a major hazard because they can fall without warning; firefighters should avoid working under them and flag or fell them when it is safe to do so.
Question 4: During a progressive hose lay, what does each successive hose crew do?
- Charges and holds the previous lay while the next crew extends forward (Correct answer)
- Returns to the engine to get a new hose before advancing
- Bypasses the previous crew and doubles the line back
- Monitors pressure gauges at each coupling
Correct answer: Charges and holds the previous lay while the next crew extends forward
In a progressive lay, each crew charges and holds their section while the next crew takes hose forward to extend the line, enabling rapid advancement toward the fire.
Question 5: What tool is most effective for extinguishing heat deep in a log or stump during mop-up?
- McLeod scraper
- Pulaski adze
- Rhino tool or boring tool to channel water inside (Correct answer)
- Combi tool chainsaw attachment
Correct answer: Rhino tool or boring tool to channel water inside
A boring or rhino tool drills channels into logs and stumps so water can be delivered directly to deep-seated heat sources during mop-up.
Question 6: What is the 'heel' of a wildland fire?
- The area directly upwind of the origin where fire intensity is highest
- The rear of the fire, opposite the head, where spread is slowest (Correct answer)
- The flanks where spotfires most commonly occur
- The point of origin where ignition first occurred
Correct answer: The rear of the fire, opposite the head, where spread is slowest
The heel (also called the rear) is the back of the fire, opposite the head, where fire intensity and rate of spread are lowest — usually the safest place to begin attack.
Question 7: When coordinating an air tanker drop with ground crews, what is the ground crew's immediate action before the drop?
- Move laterally to observe the drop pattern
- Clear out of the drop zone and confirm 'clear' to air attack (Correct answer)
- Stand at the target to guide the pilot visually
- Ignite a smoke signal at the desired drop point
Correct answer: Clear out of the drop zone and confirm 'clear' to air attack
Ground crews must evacuate the drop zone and give an 'all clear' communication to air attack before any retardant or water drop is made.
Red Card Fire Suppression Techniques 4
What is the correct order of priorities when establishing a LCES system at an incident?