Can You Answer All of These Questions a Firefighter Should Know?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Answer All of These Questions a Firefighter Should Know?
Image: Krista Long/Moment/gettyimages

About This Quiz

When literally tens of millions of calls being placed to fire departments across the country every year, being a firefighter is far and away one of the most stressful jobs a person can have.  Day in and day out, you're putting your life on the line to save and protect others from one of the most dangerous forces in the world.  

Even as technology advances to make things easier and more convenient, fire is as wild and unpredictable as ever.  Controlling it and understanding it takes time, effort and skill ... the kind of skill a firefighter must develop through rigorous training an practice. 

Firefighters have to understand so many things to do their jobs properly. They have to be aware of how materials respond to fire, how to best control them, when to fall back and when to rush in.  They need basic skills like math and communications, they need training on an endless supply of equipment, and they should know some of the history of where they came from and why they do what they do.  It's a lot to take in.  If you think you have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with a firefighter, at least in terms of knowledge, then get your gear on and take our quiz! 

What does it mean if a fire hose is charged?
It is damaged.
It's pressurized and ready for use.
It's been safely stored away.
It's been pulled for safety reasons.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A hose needs to be pressurized before it can be used. Once the line is attached to the pump at the engine, it will be pressurized and the line will visibly expand as it fills with water. Once charged, a line is very hard to manage as the pressure can be quite high.

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Firefighters are not permitted to enter a dangerous location alone. What's the term to describe how they're supposed to handle things?
Two-In Two-Out
Dream Team
Rules of Engagement
Backwatch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Two-in two-out is essentially just a buddy system that firefighters are required to adhere to. Two firefighters should enter a dangerous situation together so that no one is ever alone while two more stay out in case the first two need help.

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What's the name of the tool a firefighter might use to break a window or to probe walls and ceilings for hidden fires?
Pike pole
Jaws of Life
Fire hammer
Truncheon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pike poles have been in use for many years in firefighting. Essentially just a long pole with a spiked hook on the end, they were once useful for tearing walls down to prevent the spread of fire, and are still helpful in pulling items out from intense heat or ventilating an area.

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Fire helmets come in different colors for different ranks. Who would wear a white helmet?
Regular firefighter
Probationary firefighter
Fire inspector
Fire chief
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A fire chief or similar high-ranking officer will be wearing the white helmet at the scene of a fire while most firefighters will wear yellow or black helmets. The reason a high-ranking officer is in a different-colored helmet is to make them easier to spot in a crowd.

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Different apparatus have different names and different jobs. What is the purpose of a fire engine?
To carry tools and pump water
To carry long ladders that can conduct rescues at heights
To transport high-ranking members of the department to a fire
To provide emergency medical support on site
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fire engines are sometimes called pumpers, and they are the trucks that will carry tools and hoses and specifically are there to pump water. Engines will have an on-board tank and also the ability to pump water from an outside source. they may have ladders, but they will be smaller.

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What is someone referring to when they talk about "firefighting apparatus?"
Handheld tools like axes
The knowledge base a firefighter needs to have
Mobile firefighting equipment like trucks and pumpers
Mechanical tools like the Jaws of Life
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Because there are so many kinds of trucks, engines and other vehicles, firefighters will refer to them all collectively as apparatus so there's no confusion. In layman's terms, people will often call any vehicle a fire truck or a fire engine, but those terms are not interchangeable.

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What's another term for attacking a fire from the outside only?
Deluge
Surround and Drown
Drop Down Flood
Full Drench
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Firefighters have the option to take on a fire internally or externally. If the work will solely be done outside, the "surround and drown" technique is another name for simply attacking the fire from all sides and potentially from above with water.

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What is the purpose of a PASS device?
It allows two-way communication between firefighters.
Alerts a firefighter to toxic fumes
Sounds an alarm if a firefighter stops moving
It monitors a firefighter's vitals such as respiration and heart rate.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The PASS device, or personal alert safety system, is designed to be an emergency distress device. A firefighter in trouble can set off the alarm manually, or if they stop moving for more than 30 seconds the device will sound to alert others.

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Which of these would not be on a firefighter physical ability test?
Hose Drag
Stair Climb
Equipment Carry
Wind Sprint
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You don't have to be tested on your ability to sprint as a firefighter, but there are many other physical requirements including raising ladders, forcing your way into a locked building, carrying and dragging hoses and more.

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What was the term used to describe the old-school firefighting technique of passing water along a human chain?
Bucket Brigade
Fire Watch
Water Chain
Fire Team
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before pumps and trucks existed, the most effective way to fight a fire was by throwing a bucket of water on it. Bucket brigades were chains of people connecting a water source to a fire, passing buckets at a rapid pace along the chain for a constant flow of water.

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What class of fire is most commonly fought by using just water to suppress the flames?
Class E
Class B
Class A
Class F
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Class A fires are what you might call "normal" fires. They're fueled by combustible materials such as wood, paper or trash and include things like house fires. Common suppression techniques are usually effective in fighting these fires.

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What does NFPA stand for?
National Fire Preventers of Ameria
National Fire Protection Association
North American Fire Prevention Act
National Firefighters Protection Agency
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The National Fire Protection Association is the body that sets national standards for what firefighters are supposed to be doing and how they are doing it. All firefighting equipment, for instance, must meet NFPA regulations.

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Three in five fire deaths occur in homes due to what?
Missing or inoperative smoke alarms
Inadequate exit strategy
Arson
Grease fires
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

40% of fire deaths occur in homes that have no smoke alarm while another 17% occur in homes that have smoke alarms that simply aren't working. The death rates in homes with no working smoke alarms are more than twice as high as those with working smoke alarms.

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What do you call it when a fire has burned out most of the oxygen in a space and then oxygen is explosively reintroduced?
Slipstream
Backfire
Flash Point
Backdraft
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Backdraft can be extremely dangerous and is something firefighters need to be aware of at all times. When a fire is still burning but has used up all the oxygen in a room, reintroducing oxygen by opening a door or window can cause all the fuel in a room to reignite and explode.

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What kind of a hose would you attach to the pumper to fight a house fire?
Attack hose
Booster hose
Supply hose
Suction hose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An attack hose is the kind of hose you'll want to use to take on a fire. They can come in a range of sizes, but an attack hose for fighting a standard house fire will likely be about 1.5" in diameter.

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What exactly is a quint?
A type of fire apparatus
A probationary firefighter
A technique for fighting large fires
A tool for breaking doors
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A quint is another name for a vehicle that combines the functions of both a fire truck and a fire engine. The name refers to the fact it has 5 functions - aerial device, ground ladders, pump, fire hose and water tank.

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What are the three elements in the fire triangle?
Fuel, oxygen and time
Oxygen, accelerant and space
Heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent
Oxidization, combustion and agitation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For a fire to happen, it needs all three elements of the fire triangles - heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent. The agent is usually oxygen and the fuel could be anything from gasoline to paper to a can or garbage. Once heat is added, the conditions are primed for a fire to start.

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What is the classification for a fire that's fueled by flammable metals?
Class B
Class D
Class F
Class G
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Class D fires are flammable metal fires and require special methods for fighting. Water should not be used to handle a Class D fire, as it's possible the addition of water could react with metals and make the situation even worse.

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How many classifications of buildings are there based on the fire-resistance of their construction materials?
3
5
7
10
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 5 different classifications for buildings based on what the building is made of and how well it resists fire. This information can be immensely helpful for a firefighter to know since obviously, a building made entirely of wood is more likely to burn than brick

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How often do fire departments in America respond to a call?
Every 24 seconds
Every 3 minutes
Every 5 minutes
Every 13 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to NFPA stats, a call is responded to every 24 seconds somewhere in America. Of the 1.3 million fires responded to in 2017, 72% of them were house fires. Those resulted in about 3,400 deaths.

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Airport crash tenders are important for firefighting. What are they?
Mats for rescuing crash victims
Heavy-duty trucks for dealing with airport fires
Firefighters trained to deal with airplane fires
Chemicals to suppress jet fuel fires
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An airport crash tender is a specific fire apparatus meant to deal with the unique challenges of airport fires. They're fast, they have a large water capacity and they can handle rougher terrain if they need to leave the runway.

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What's another name for a firefighter trained to fight remote forest fires?
Wildfighter
Forest Fighter
Fire Ranger
Smoke Jumper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Smokejumpers do the incredibly dangerous job of parachuting into remote wilderness areas where typical firefighting equipment can't reach to fight a fire. This can obviously be a very dangerous job, and it requires extensive training.

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The name FM-200 doesn't tell you much about this product that firefighters use. What is it?
A breathing mask
A chemical fire suppressant
A type of hose
The call sign for an aerial fire apparatus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

FM-200 is a halocarbon chemical fire suppressant. It's also known by the incredibly unwieldy name "1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane" and is useful for fighting fires that can't be exposed to water for safety reasons

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How old are the majority of firefighters in America as of 2017 statistics from the NFPA?
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

27% of all firefighters are between 30 and 39 making them the majority in America. 24% are between 40 and 49 while 21% fall between the ages of 20 and 29. 3% of firefighters are aged 16 to 19 and 8% are over the age of 60.

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What's the purpose of a hook ladder?
To catch hold of people in need of rescue.
To pull open windows.
To access windows in narrow spaces
To climb short distances
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a firefighter needed to access a window from an alley where a truck couldn't reach, a hook ladder could be hooked onto a windowsill and climbed up. In fact, firefighters could scale an entire building this way dragging the ladder up to each new floor behind them.

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Sometimes a firefighter may need to use a K-Tool. What is it for?
Measuring kilojoules in a fire
Removing a cylinder lock on a door
Cutting through steel
Checking door temperatures
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A K-tool is a very simple looking piece of equipment meant to pop a cylinder lock out of a door. A piece of metal with a K-shaped wedge is forced down over the lock, then the firefighter can use a prying tool to yank the entire lock right out of the door.

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What percentage of firefighters in America are women?
7.3%
10.1%
15.6%
22%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only 7.3% of firefighters working in America as of 2017 were women. That works out to about 84,700 women across the country working as firefighters. In a city like New York with just over 11,000 firefighters, that would make around 800 women.

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What kind of fire is classified as a Class K fire?
Cooking oil fire
Flammable metal fire
Electrical fire
Flammable gas fire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Class K fires are fires caused by cooking oils and fats. There is a classification for fires caused by flammable liquids, but because cooking oil fires were so common and presented unique differences and challenges, they were given their own separate classification.

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There's a kind of fire truck with a ladder that can reach over 30 stories high. What animal is it named after?
Brontosaurus
Giraffe
Elephant
King Kong
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Bronto Skylift is a pretty rare fire apparatus and would only see use in larger cities. The massive hydraulic ladder rig can reach the top of a skyscraper to evacuate people in an emergency.

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What was the total cost of fires in the US in 2014?
$257 million
$670.7 million
$107 billion
$328.5 billion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the NFPA, the cost of fires in the US was $328.5 billion in 2014 if you take into account both expenditures in dealing with the fire and the loss due to the destruction the fires caused. That's 1.9% of America's gross domestic product!

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When was the first official fire department founded in Boston?
1776
1678
1812
1699
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

America's first official fire department was founded January 27, 1678, in Boston. This was six years after the governor took the time to ban people from having wooden chimneys and thatched roofs which were incredible fire hazards.

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What do you call the large water cannon affixed on top of some pumper trucks?
Deluge gun
Deck gun
Fire monitor
All of the Above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The deluge gun is known as a deck gun, a fire monitor and even a master stream. Firefighting boats can also have these impressive cannons mounted on them and they can fire upward of 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of water per minute.

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According to NFPA standards, how many categories of fire apparatus are there?
1
3
5
7
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

NFPA standards describe seven types of fire apparatus which include Pumper Fire Apparatus, Initial Attack Apparatus, Mobile Water Supply Apparatus, Aerial Apparatus, Quint Fire Apparatus, Special Service fire apparatus and Mobile Foam fire apparatus.

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According to NFPA statistics, how many calls were made to fire departments in America in 2016?
21,456,500
28,091,000
35,320,000
87,213,500
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the NFPA, 35,320,000 calls were placed to fire departments in 2016. 1.3 million were for fires while over 22 million required medical assistance. Compare that to 1980, when there were just over 10 million calls but 3 million fires.

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How many firefighters were injured in the line of duty back in 2017, according to the NFPA?
45,567
58,835
66,812
80,409
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There were 55, 835 injuries during the line of duty in 2017 for firefighters. while that number is high, it's down from 62, 085 in 2016 which is certainly some decent progress overall for a very dangerous line of work.

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You Got:
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Krista Long/Moment/gettyimages