Practice Test Geeks(S-130) Wildland Firefighting Training Certification Practice Test
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Map and Compass Flashcards

7 cards from real S-130 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Map and Compass flashcards as text

  1. When the western United States has an eastern magnetic declination, which direction must you adjust a compass bearing to get a true bearing?

    Answer: Subtract the declination from the compass bearing

    In areas of east declination (where magnetic north is east of true north), subtract the declination value from the compass bearing to obtain the true bearing.

  2. A firefighter estimates they are walking at roughly 3 mph. How long should it take them to travel 1.5 miles to a safety zone?

    Answer: 30 minutes

    At 3 mph, traveling 1.5 miles takes 30 minutes (1.5 ÷ 3 = 0.5 hours = 30 minutes).

  3. What is the primary reason wildland firefighters carry a compass in addition to a GPS device?

    Answer: GPS units can fail due to dead batteries or signal loss, while a compass is always reliable

    A magnetic compass requires no batteries or satellite signal, making it a reliable backup navigation tool when GPS fails in remote terrain.

  4. On a topographic map, what terrain feature is indicated by contour lines that merge or nearly touch?

    Answer: A cliff or very steep terrain

    Contour lines that merge or appear to touch indicate a cliff or extremely steep slope — a critical hazard for firefighter escape route planning.

  5. Which of the following best describes a 'section' in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS)?

    Answer: A 1-mile by 1-mile unit of land containing approximately 640 acres

    A PLSS section is a 1-mile × 1-mile square (640 acres), one of 36 sections that make up a township, commonly used to report fire locations in the western U.S.

  6. When using a map and compass to plan an escape route during a wildland fire, what terrain feature should a firefighter generally move TOWARD?

    Answer: Ridgetops, saddles, or previously burned areas

    Ridgetops, saddles, and burned areas provide defensible safety zones with reduced fuel loads and better visibility — standard LCES guidance.

  7. What does the RF (Representative Fraction) of 1:24,000 mean on a topographic map?

    Answer: 1 unit on the map equals 24,000 of the same units on the ground

    A representative fraction of 1:24,000 means that 1 unit of measurement on the map equals 24,000 of the same units in reality (e.g., 1 cm = 24,000 cm = 240 m).