Red Card Fire Suppression Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'burnout' operation during wildland fire suppression?
- Testing moisture content of fuels before attack
- Burning fuel between the control line and the fire to widen the black (Correct answer)
- Setting a fire at the origin to reconstruct spread direction
- Warming crew members during cold night shifts
Correct answer: Burning fuel between the control line and the fire to widen the black
A burnout intentionally burns fuel between an established control line and the approaching fire, strengthening the line by eliminating available fuel.
Question 2: Which condition makes a direct attack on the fire's head most appropriate?
- High winds with low relative humidity
- Steep uphill terrain with dense fuel loading
- Low-intensity fire in accessible, flat terrain (Correct answer)
- Fire exhibiting active crowning behavior
Correct answer: Low-intensity fire in accessible, flat terrain
Direct attack on a fire's head is safest and most effective when fire intensity is low and terrain is accessible, allowing crews to work close to the flames.
Question 3: What is the main risk of using foam concentrate improperly on a wildland fire?
- Foam attracts wildlife to the fire area
- Incorrect dilution ratios reduce effectiveness or can damage equipment (Correct answer)
- Foam creates excessive smoke that grounds aircraft
- Foam cannot be used in conjunction with hand tools
Correct answer: Incorrect dilution ratios reduce effectiveness or can damage equipment
Foam must be mixed at correct concentration ratios; too little reduces fire-knockdown effectiveness while too much can waste resources and clog nozzles or equipment.
Question 4: What is the significance of the 30/30/30 rule in wildland fire behavior and suppression planning?
- 30 mph wind, 30% relative humidity, 30-degree slope — high danger conditions requiring extreme caution (Correct answer)
- 30-foot safety zone, 30-minute escape time, 30% fuel moisture threshold
- 30-second lookout intervals, 30-foot fireline width, 30% retardant coverage
- 30 crew members per division, 30-minute operational periods, 30% humidity trigger
Correct answer: 30 mph wind, 30% relative humidity, 30-degree slope — high danger conditions requiring extreme caution
The 30/30/30 rule identifies extreme fire danger: wind speeds of 30 mph or more, relative humidity at 30% or below, and slopes of 30 degrees or steeper.
Question 5: During a flanking attack, crews work along which part of the fire?
- The head, attacking into the fire's advance
- The heel, working backward from origin
- The sides (flanks) parallel to fire spread direction (Correct answer)
- The perimeter perimeter closest to structures
Correct answer: The sides (flanks) parallel to fire spread direction
Flanking attack involves constructing control lines along the sides of the fire, working from the heel toward the head to reduce the fire's width and contain spread.
Question 6: What does 'size-up' refer to in wildland fire suppression?
- Measuring the length of hose needed for a lay
- Rapid initial assessment of fire location, behavior, terrain, and resources (Correct answer)
- Calculating retardant volume needed for an air drop
- Estimating crew fatigue levels for shift rotation
Correct answer: Rapid initial assessment of fire location, behavior, terrain, and resources
Size-up is the process of rapidly gathering and evaluating information about a fire to determine the best suppression strategy and resource needs.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'check line' or 'holding line' during a prescribed fire or burnout?
- A line dug to check soil depth for root fires
- A control line built to stop backing or flanking fire movement and hold it within planned boundaries (Correct answer)
- A boundary for media and public observation
- A secondary fireline built as a training exercise
Correct answer: A control line built to stop backing or flanking fire movement and hold it within planned boundaries
A check or holding line is constructed to stop fire movement on the flanks or rear, ensuring the fire stays within planned boundaries during burnout or prescribed fire operations.
Red Card Fire Suppression Techniques 5
What is the purpose of a 'burnout' operation during wildland fire suppression?