Red Card Tools, Equipment & Resource Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using a chainsaw on a wildland fire, what is the minimum safe falling distance crew members must maintain from the saw operator?
- 10 feet
- 50 feet
- Two tree lengths in the direction of fall (Correct answer)
- One tree length in any direction
Correct answer: Two tree lengths in the direction of fall
Crew members must stay at least two tree lengths away in the direction of fall to avoid being struck by the felled tree or debris.
Question 2: A Pulaski tool is a combination of which two implements?
- Shovel and mattock
- Axe and adze (hoe) (Correct answer)
- Rake and pick
- Chainsaw and pruner
Correct answer: Axe and adze (hoe)
The Pulaski combines an axe blade on one side and an adze (hoe) on the other, making it versatile for both chopping and grubbing.
Question 3: What does the term 'tender' refer to in wildland fire resource management?
- A firefighter assigned to monitor equipment
- A water- or fuel-carrying vehicle (Correct answer)
- A hand tool used for mopping up
- A radio operator assigned to a division
Correct answer: A water- or fuel-carrying vehicle
A tender is a vehicle designed to transport and supply water or fuel to firefighting operations in the field.
Question 4: When sharpening a council rake (fire rake), which part of the tine should primarily be sharpened?
- The flat top of each tine
- The inside curved edge of each tine
- The outside curved edge of each tine (Correct answer)
- The connecting bar between tines
Correct answer: The outside curved edge of each tine
The outside curved edge of each tine is sharpened so it can cut and scrape vegetation when pulled toward the firefighter.
Question 5: In the ICS resource management system, what does 'single resource' mean?
- One piece of equipment with no personnel
- An individual, a piece of equipment with its crew, or a crew (Correct answer)
- A resource that can only perform one function
- Equipment assigned to a single division
Correct answer: An individual, a piece of equipment with its crew, or a crew
A single resource is the basic building block of ICS and consists of an individual, a piece of equipment with its personnel, or a crew.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a fire shelter deployment in a wildland fire situation?
- To signal aircraft for rescue
- To provide a survivable microclimate when entrapment is unavoidable (Correct answer)
- To protect equipment from radiant heat
- To mark a safety zone location for incoming crews
Correct answer: To provide a survivable microclimate when entrapment is unavoidable
The fire shelter creates a temporary microclimate that reflects radiant heat and traps breathable air, used only as a last resort when entrapment is unavoidable.
Question 7: A crew is ordered to 'check in' upon arrival at the incident. Which ICS location is typically NOT a valid check-in point?
- Incident command post
- Staging area
- Base camp kitchen (Correct answer)
- Division supervisor location
Correct answer: Base camp kitchen
Valid ICS check-in points include the ICP, staging area, base, camp, helibase, or helispots — not the camp kitchen, which is a support function area.
Red Card Tools, Equipment & Resource Management 4
When using a chainsaw on a wildland fire, what is the minimum safe falling distance crew members must maintain from the saw operator?