Can You Blaze Through This Firefighting Quiz in 7 Minutes?

By: Kale Havervold
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Blaze Through This Firefighting Quiz in 7 Minutes?
Image: tomazl / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Firefighters are real-life heroes and risk their lives every day for the greater good. Whether it is responding to accidents, running into burning buildings, or putting out fires, firefighters do it all. They undergo difficult training (both mentally and physically) to ensure they are ready and prepared for anything.

While we know they put out fires and save lives, how much do you actually know about firefighting? How much do you know about the tactics, rules and procedures that they abide by? For example, are you aware of the first thing a firefighter has to do before entering a burning building? How about who takes charge on a call?

Also, to be a firefighter, you need to know a variety of different things from the different classifications of fire, to the correct way to carry someone out of a building that is engulfed in flames. Whether you want to prove your knowledge of all things firefighting to your friends, or simply want to learn more about these heroes, this is the right quiz for you.

Without any further ado, get your turnout gear on and prepare to take on our challenging quiz. Will you go up in flames or douse the fire on your way to victory?

Q 03 Tools
Pixabay by ReinhardThrainer
Which firefighting tool is used to pry open a car door that won't open?
A water hammer
The Jaws of Life
Fire shear
Wrench of power
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If firefighters need to save someone from a mangled vehicle at the scene of a crash, they will use the Jaws of Life. It is a hydraulic apparatus that can pry apart the vehicle to free someone from the wreckage.

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Q 11 Equipment
Pixabay by TheHilaryClark
PPE is incredibly important to firefighters. It is an acronym for _________.
Powerful proper enterprise
Personal protective equipment
Professional preparation entity
Partial personal equity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It is essentially any type of protective gear, clothing or helmets. They can protect from a range of different things, such as chemicals, heat and more.

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Q 04 Helmet
Pixabay by Premier56
Certain firefighters will wear different colored helmets. What does this mean?
Different stations wear different colors
It is the firefighter's choice
It is completely random
It signifies their rank
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At most fire stations, the colors of the helmets will signify the rank, position or seniority of a firefighter. For example, a white helmet often identifies a chief, and red normally signifies a captain.

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Q 26 CPR Training
sturti / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these medical emergencies should likely require a first responder to perform CPR?
A broken ankle
A heart attack
A broken neck
A broken arm
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In general, CPR is used to help get the heart to begin pumping blood through the body again. While someone with a broken bone might require it, nearly every heart attack will require CPR to save the victim.

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Q 21 Smoke
Pixabay by Pexels
What does it mean if a fire is smoldering?
It is over 5 feet high.
Burning very slow with only smoke, no flame
It is just getting started.
It has been lit for over an hour.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a fire is smoldering, it means it is only burning with some smoke, no fire. A fire could potentially be smoldering for hours, or even days, before it is noticed, due to the lack of flames.

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Q 18 Free
Unsplash by Matt Chesin
What do firefighters do when they're not on a call?
Provide public education on fires
Take inventory of everything to ensure trucks are ready to go
Keep the station clean and functional
All of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the main part of a firefighter's job is to fight fires, there is much more that they are responsible for doing. The aforementioned tasks are only a few of what most firefighters will need to do.

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Q 31 Expand
Pixabay by mskathrynne
When air heats up, what happens to it?
It expands
It shrinks
Nothing happens
It tightens up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Like most things, when air is heated to an appropriate amount, it will expand. Molecules will also move faster, and hot air will often float upward. That is essentially how hot air balloons are able to fly.

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Q 23 Commander
Unsplash by Matt Chesin
What is the incident commander in charge of doing?
Responsible for nearly everything when responding to an accident or emergency
They write everything down.
They stay at the station and tell certain firefighters where to go.
They are the only person to use the fire hose.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An incident commander is one of the most important people on the fire company when it arrives at a scene. They develop objectives, are responsible for everyone else and manage all operations.

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Q 32 Smoke
Unsplash by Jens Johnsson
Which of these is not found in smoke?
Particulate matter
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
They are all found in smoke.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Smoke is made up of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Of course, smoke can also contain a wide range of different chemicals depending on what is burning.

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Q 08 First Fire Departments
breckeni / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these legendary figures was responsible for helping create one of the first fire departments in the USA?
Abraham Lincoln
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Christopher Columbus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Benjamin Franklin helped to found the very first fire department in the United States. The Union Fire Company in Philadelphia was founded in 1736 and stayed active until around 1820.

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Q 19 Rules
Unsplash by Matt Chesin
In firefighting, what is the two-in/two-out rule?
Two people need to take the fire hose out and put it back
Never go into a dangerous situation alone
Two firefighters exit the fire truck at the same time
You need to put the fire suit on both legs at a time
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Going into a burning building or an accident scene is very dangerous. To help try to minimize the danger, firefighters always enter these situations with someone else and never alone.

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What is the name for the correct way a firefighter should lift someone and remove them from a dangerous situation?
The wheelbarrow
The fireman's carry
The two-arm sling
The baby cradle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As you might be able to tell from the name, the correct way for a firefighter to lift someone and take them to safety is known as the fireman's carry. It allows a person to carry another without the help of anyone else.

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Q 09 Unconscious
Peter Muller / Cultura / Getty Images
If someone is unconscious at the scene of an accident, what is the very first thing a firefighter needs to do?
Wait for the police to tell them what to do
See if anyone else is hurt
Make sure no bones are broken
Check their breathing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many important things that a firefighter needs to do at the scene of the accident. However, the very first is to check the breathing of any victims. If they are not breathing, you need to perform CPR or another method to try restore their breathing.

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Q 15 Ashes
Pixabay by Paulbr75
Sometimes a "salvage operation" must take place after a fire. What is this?
Trying to save what you can from the aftermath of a fire
Putting the hose back in the truck
Cleaning the soot off your suit
Transporting any injured people
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many phases and stages of a firefight, and one of the last is a salvage operation. This is when firefighters will go through a burnt area and see if there is anything that can be saved or salvaged.

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Q 06 Heart
Unsplash by Artur Łuczka
How many times a minute will an average adult's heart beat?
110 to 150
20 to 40
60 to 100
120 to 140
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The average rate for an adult heartbeat is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This will vary depending on a number of things, but anything between that range is normal. Some extreme athletes, however, might see theirs drop a bit lower.

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Q 27 Neurons
4X-Image / E+ / Getty Images
If brain cells don't have access to oxygen, around how long will it take them to die?
About 45 minutes
About 6 minutes
About an hour
About 14 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unfortunately, if your brain cells do not have access to oxygen, you don't have much time before they will begin to die. In general, brain cells can only go about 6 minutes without oxygen.

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Q 10 Stages
Unsplash by Christian Sterk
There are many different stages of a fire. What is the incipient stage?
When the fire has the potential of starting
Right in the middle of the fire
The end of the fire
The initial or starting stage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a fire is just starting, it is in the incipient stage. At this point, a fire is still able to be controlled or completely extinguished, but it is also well on its way to potentially becoming a larger problem.

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Q 05 Bandages
Unsplash by Mandy Zhu
You notice an accident victim has charred skin, what degree of burn do they likely have?
First-degree burn
Second-degree burn
Third-degree burn
None of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Burns come in different levels of severity, with third-degree burns being the worst that a person can have. If someone has skin that is charred, that is a telltale sign that they have suffered from a third-degree burn.

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Q 34 9_11
Unsplash by Matt Chesin
How many NYC firefighters died in the Sept. 11 attacks?
172
343
600
89
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of the near 3,000 people who died in the 9/11 attacks, 343 of them were firefighters who put their lives on the line to try to save the civilian victims of the terrorist attacks.

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Q 33 Roof
Pixabay by MichaelGaida
What is the most common and dangerous aspect of completing a salvage operation?
Residual burns from burnt material
The roof collapsing on you
Inhaling smoke
The fire starting up again
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While completing a salvage operation isn't ever easy, the most important thing you need to look out for is a collapsing roof. There is a good chance the structural integrity of the roof has been negatively affected, and that could cause it to collapse.

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Q 20 Sweat
Unsplash by Hans Reniers
Which of the following symptoms is not associated with someone suffering from heatstroke?
Shallow breathing
Dripping sweat
Headaches and dizziness
Cramps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ironically enough, someone who is suffering from heatstroke will likely not be sweating. It is this inability to sweat — for whatever reason — that is a major cause of people overheating. Sweating helps cool us off.

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Q 24 Firefighter age
Ariel Skelley / DigitalVision / Getty Images
How old is the average firefighter in the USA?
38.5 years old
25 years old
42.6 years old
49 years old
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to Data USA, the average firefighter is 38.6 years old. The average male firefighter is 38.7, while the average female firefighter is a bit younger at 36.3 years old.

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Q 28 Houses
Pixabay by 12019
House fires are relatively common. How many occur annually in the USA alone?
About 350,000
About 200,000
About 75,000
About 20,000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to NFPA reports, there are around 350,000 house structure fires in the USA alone every year. These start for a number of reasons and can lead to expensive repairs, injuries or worse.

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Q 22 Hydrant
Unsplash by Joshua Hoehne
Of the following, which is not a type of fire hydrant?
Slide-gate
Compression
Toggle
Tactile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Toggle, slide-gate and compression fire hydrants are all real and exist today. They all fall under the term "dry barrel" as the entire waterline is all under the ground and thus not prone to frost.

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Q 12 Volunteer
Unsplash by Arny Mongensen
Many fire stations feature volunteer firefighters. What percentage of firefighters in the USA are volunteers?
13%
33%
50%
70%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to an NFPA report, about 70% of all firefighters in the USA are volunteers. While there are volunteers in large cities, it is usually the smaller towns that have a volunteer fire department.

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Q 17 Heavy
Unsplash by Matt Chesin
How heavy is the gear that firefighters wear while out on a call?
25 pounds
85 pounds
115 pounds
It varies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The weight of firefighting gear can vary greatly. It weighs at least 45 pounds for the basics, but if you need to add extra items like a radio, axes and other things, it can weigh well over 100 pounds.

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Q 14 Cemetery
Pexels by Veronika Valdova
How many Americans die in house fires in a year?
Fewer than 500
Between 2,000 and 2,500
About 800
Over 3,000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the USFA and its data, well over 3,000 Americans die every year from house fires alone. This is troublesome and, unfortunately, hasn't shown any signs of going down.

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Q 07 home fire
Unsplash by Daniel Tausis
What is the most common cause of home fires in the USA?
Cooking
Smoking
Candles
Fireplaces
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While all the listed methods certainly start fires, cooking is the largest contributor to home fires in the USA. Leaving ovens or stoves on is incredibly common and can lead to dangerous house fires.

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Q 01 Breathe
Unsplash by Eli DeFaria
What is the normal breathing rate for an adult?
Around 12 to 20 breaths per minute
25 to 30 breaths per minute
One to three breaths per minute
Around 60 to 65 breaths per minute
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While it varies from person to person, anyone with a breathing rate between 12 to 20 breaths per minute is usually within the normal range. Any higher or lower than that could be a cause for concern.

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Q 13 Infant
Unsplash by Tim Bish
What is the normal rate of breathing for infants?
30 to 60 breaths a minute
12 to 20 breaths a minute
100 to 130 breaths a minute
70 to 90 breaths a minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Like adults, there is a range that is considered "normal" breathing for infants. In general, that is between 30 and 60 breaths a minute. Any more or less, and you should consider consulting a doctor.

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Q 25 CPR
Pixabay by succo
The techniques used for CPR are different for adults and children. How old should a victim be before adult techniques are used on them?
14 years old
4 years old
8 years old
18 years old
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While 8 year olds are still considered children, that is the age where you can begin using adult CPR techniques on individuals. While there are similarities, adult techniques are not quite the same as child or infant techniques.

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Q 30 Women
Holly Wilmeth / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Of all of the firefighters in the USA, what percentage of them are women?
About 21%
About 28%
About 14%
About 4%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of the many firefighters working in the USA, only about 4% of them are female. While this might seem low, it is actually an improvement from the past, but there is still a lot of room for improvement in that department.

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Q 16 Infant Vitals
Blend Images - LWA/Dann Tardif / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Where is the correct place to check the pulse of an infant who is awake and responsive?
On the arm
On the chest
On the leg
On the neck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When checking the pulse of an infant who is completely responsive and awake, you check their brachial artery. This is located on the infant's arm, between the elbow and the shoulder.

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Q 02 Fire
Unsplash by Almos Bechtold
How many different classifications of fire are there in the U.S.?
Two
Four
Five
Eight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are five classes of fire in the U.S.. Each class has different characteristics and different methods for suppressing them if they are to occur. The fire classes are A, B,C, D and K.

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Q 29 Injury
Pexels by Pixabay
What is the first thing you should do if you notice a victim who has a broken leg but is breathing?
Give them CPR
Immobilize the injured appendage
Help them up
Stop the bleeding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While you might think the first thing to do is immobilize the injury, you would be wrong. First, it is important to stop any bleeding before immobilizing, as blood loss can contribute to many issues and potentially even death.

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You Got:
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