Red Card Tools, Equipment & Resource Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which firefighting hand tool is best suited for working in heavy brush and building a scratch line quickly?
- Pulaski
- McLeod
- Rhino tool (Correct answer)
- Combi tool
Correct answer: Rhino tool
The Rhino tool (or similar combination tools) and brush hooks are designed for cutting through heavy brush rapidly to establish a scratch line.
Question 2: What does 'resource tracking' in ICS require supervisors to report when resources are reassigned?
- Only the new assignment location
- Status changes and current location at all times (Correct answer)
- The resource's daily mileage and fuel consumption
- Only changes that affect the Incident Action Plan
Correct answer: Status changes and current location at all times
ICS resource tracking requires supervisors to report both status changes and current location continuously so the incident command always knows resource availability.
Question 3: When a hand crew uses progressive hose lays on a wildland fire, what is the key advantage of this method?
- It uses less water than other methods
- It allows hose to be extended while water flows without shutting down the supply (Correct answer)
- It requires fewer fittings than a simple hose lay
- It can only be used on flat terrain
Correct answer: It allows hose to be extended while water flows without shutting down the supply
A progressive hose lay allows firefighters to add hose sections and extend the line while maintaining water flow, enabling continuous suppression as the line advances.
Question 4: What is the correct technique for carrying a sharp-edged hand tool such as a Pulaski while walking through terrain?
- Hold it with the blade pointing upward in front of you
- Carry it on the uphill shoulder with the blade turned away from the body (Correct answer)
- Drag it along the ground to keep the edge protected
- Hold it horizontally across both arms
Correct answer: Carry it on the uphill shoulder with the blade turned away from the body
Sharp-edged tools should be carried on the uphill shoulder with the blade turned away from the body to prevent injury if the carrier slips.
Question 5: In wildland fire, a 'task force' is defined as:
- Any group of five engines regardless of type
- A combination of single resources assembled to meet specific tactical needs with a common leader (Correct answer)
- A crew assigned exclusively to structure protection tasks
- Two or more strike teams operating in the same division
Correct answer: A combination of single resources assembled to meet specific tactical needs with a common leader
A task force is any combination of mixed resources with a common communications link and leader, assembled for a specific tactical need.
Question 6: What is the maximum number of single resources that typically make up a strike team?
- Three
- Five (Correct answer)
- Seven
- Ten
Correct answer: Five
A strike team consists of five single resources of the same kind and type, with a designated leader and common communications.
Question 7: When a portable pump fails to prime during mop-up operations, what should be checked first?
- Whether the engine oil level is correct
- Whether the suction hose and strainer are free of air leaks and debris (Correct answer)
- Whether the discharge hose is fully extended
- Whether the fuel mixture ratio is correct
Correct answer: Whether the suction hose and strainer are free of air leaks and debris
A failed prime is almost always caused by an air leak in the suction hose or a clogged strainer preventing the pump from drawing water.
Red Card Tools, Equipment & Resource Management 5
Which firefighting hand tool is best suited for working in heavy brush and building a scratch line quickly?