S-130 Fire Suppression 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When constructing a handline fireline, what is the standard minimum width for a fireline in light fuels?
- 1.5 times the height of surrounding fuel (Correct answer)
- 2 times the height of surrounding fuel
- 3 feet wide regardless of fuel
- As wide as the crew leader decides
Correct answer: 1.5 times the height of surrounding fuel
A fireline should be at least 1.5 times the height of the surrounding fuel to provide an adequate break.
Question 2: The 'cold trailing' method of fire suppression is best described as:
- Applying foam suppressant along the fire perimeter
- Feeling the ash and burned material with bare hands to detect heat (Correct answer)
- Using aerial retardant drops ahead of the fire
- Backfiring from a safety zone at night
Correct answer: Feeling the ash and burned material with bare hands to detect heat
Cold trailing involves feeling the burned area with bare hands to detect residual heat and ensure the fire is truly out.
Question 3: Which suppression tactic involves igniting fuels between the fire and a control line to widen the buffer zone?
- Parallel attack
- Flanking attack
- Backfire (Correct answer)
- Direct attack
Correct answer: Backfire
A backfire is intentionally set from a control line to burn toward the main fire, consuming fuels in between.
Question 4: When using a McLeod tool on fireline construction, the preferred technique is to:
- Use only the tined rake side to clear debris quickly
- Alternate between scraping with the blade and raking with the tines (Correct answer)
- Drive the blade into the soil like a hoe for deeper cuts
- Use it exclusively on rocky terrain where other tools fail
Correct answer: Alternate between scraping with the blade and raking with the tines
Alternating between the scraping blade and raking tines maximizes efficiency when constructing fireline with a McLeod.
Question 5: What does the term 'anchor point' refer to in fireline construction?
- The point where a helicopter drops water on the fire
- A safe starting location for building fireline to prevent the fire from flanking the crew (Correct answer)
- The center of the fire where initial attack begins
- The location where retardant lines are anchored to natural barriers
Correct answer: A safe starting location for building fireline to prevent the fire from flanking the crew
An anchor point is an advantageous location—such as a road or rock outcrop—from which to begin fireline construction safely.
Question 6: During mop-up operations, a 'hotspot' located 10 feet inside the black is most appropriately treated by:
- Flagging it and returning after other perimeter work is complete
- Digging out the hot material and mixing it with cold soil or water (Correct answer)
- Building a small containment ring around it and monitoring
- Calling for air tanker support
Correct answer: Digging out the hot material and mixing it with cold soil or water
Hotspots inside the black should be dug out and mixed with cold soil or water to ensure complete extinguishment.
Question 7: Which type of attack uses a fireline built some distance away from and parallel to the fire edge in rapidly spreading fires?
- Direct attack
- Indirect attack (Correct answer)
- Tandem attack
- Point attack
Correct answer: Indirect attack
Indirect attack establishes a control line away from the fire's edge, using natural barriers or burned-out areas as part of the line.
S-130 Fire Suppression 2
When constructing a handline fireline, what is the standard minimum width for a fireline in light fuels?