Fire Officer Test Flashcards
(179 cards)
1
Q
Historically, how did the fire service originate in the United States?
A
As communities of civilian volunteers
2
Q
When steam-powered fire engines were introduced in the 1800s, what was the reaction of many volunteer fire fighters?
A
Fire fighters were threatened by the apparatus and resisted their use.
3
Q
What were the first building codes originally developed to prevent?
A
Building collapse
4
Q
Which condition could ensue if it were not for the principle of unity of command?
A
Fire fighters could receive multiple, possibly conflicting, orders from different officers.
5
Q
With _____________, the specific assignment of a task to an individual makes that person responsible for completing the task and prevents duplication of job assignments.
A
division of labor
6
Q
Attributes or qualities that can be described and measured during a promotional examination are
known as _____________.
A
dimensions
7
Q
To be effective in a role-playing exercise, a candidate’s supervisory decisions should be strictly based on __________.
A
policies and regulations
8
Q
What does the term “data dump” mean in the context of emergency incident simulations in assessment centers?
A
The candidate demonstrates his or her depth of knowledge about a particular subject.
9
Q
In an assessment center role-play simulation where a candidate is dealing with a subordinate with an
issue, which of the following is a key point?
A
Maintain control of the interview.
10
Q
A(n) _____________ is used to present a series of simulation exercises that are used to evaluate a
candidate’s competence in performing the actual tasks associated with a job.
A
assessment center
11
Q
When an officer tells subordinates that he does not agree with an order but that the order has to be
enforced anyway, what is the result?
A
The officer’s authority and supervisory ability are undermined.
12
Q
What is one of the three recommended activities for fire officers to help them work effectively with their supervisors?
A
Keep the supervisor informed.
13
Q
If fire officers have the authority to solve a given problem that has come up, what should they do?
A
They should go ahead and make a decision.
14
Q
Fire officers should consult their supervisors if they are going to make a decision that ___________.
A
goes beyond their scope of authority
15
Q
Which agency enforces the federal laws establishing the civil rights of Americans in the workplace?
A
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
16
Q
As part of active listening, when should the listener interrupt the speaker?
A
Never; the speaker should be allowed to have a full say
17
Q
What is one good method for keeping a conversation on the topic at hand?
A
Directed questioning
18
Q
Using the order model of communication, assuming an order was issued from Command to Engine 5, what should be the last part of that communication?
A
Confirmation from Command
19
Q
Which type of documents are SOPs?
A
Formal and permanent
20
Q
How does HIPAA relate to fire department communications?
A
It deals with protection of individuals from the release of sensitive information.
21
Q
What is the trend, if any, in the rate of fire fighter deaths while responding to calls in recent years?
A
The rate is increasing.
22
Q
What are the most common activities being performed when fire fighters are injured?
A
Fire-ground operations
23
Q
Which situation justifies exposing fire fighters to a high level of risk?
A
Realistic chance of saving a life
24
Q
Who determines fitness-for-duty status after reviewing documentation of a member’s exposure?
A
Fire department physician
25
In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, how can records of accidents be used?
Identifying trends
26
What does a Theory X manager believe?
People do not like to work.
27
A Theory Y manager believes that people need to be __________ rather than __________.
encouraged/controlled
28
What does the accommodating person demonstrate, according to the Blake and Mouton Managerial
Grid?
Low concern for results, high concern for people
29
Employee relations include all activities designed to __________________.
maintain a rapport with the employees
30
What does the controlling person demonstrate, according to the Blake and Mouton Managerial Grid?
High concern for results, low concern for people
31
A goal of an effective fire officer is to delegate decision making in routine activities to the
________.
lowest possible level
32
In reinforcement theory, which term is defined as ignoring bad behavior?
Extinction
33
What does goal setting rely on as a motivational strategy?
The natural competitiveness of people
34
What is the first obligation in a mayday situation?
Maintain radio discipline
35
Which management strategy involves removing the negative consequences of good performance?
Negative reinforcement
36
“The process of achieving proficiency through instruction and hands-on practice in the operation of
equipment and systems” is the definition of __________.
training
37
_____________ is the process of imparting knowledge or skill through systematic instruction.
Education
38
Which agency mandates blood borne pathogens training in the fire service?
OSHA
39
______________ is a method of directing, instructing, and training a person or group of people with
the aim of achieving some goal or developing specific skills.
Coaching
40
What is the first step when developing a specific training program that is not already an existing
program or lesson plan?
Assess the need.
41
________________ is present when fire officers tend to rate their subordinates more harshly than
warranted on annual evaluations.
Severity
42
What is the evaluation error called in which a supervisor rates a fire fighter only on his or her most
recent behavior rather than on the fire fighter’s performance throughout the entire preceding
evaluation period?
Recency
43
Positive discipline is reinforced by __________.
recognizing improved performance and rewarding excellent performance
44
What is the ultimate goal of negative discipline?
Performance improvement
45
Which program is designed to deal with issues such as substance abuse, emotional or mental health
issues, marital and family difficulties, or other difficulties that affect job performance?
Employee assistance program
46
How can the balance of power between labor and management be described during the 20th century?
It has swung back and forth like a pendulum.
47
What is the legal status of striking by public safety workers?
It is illegal in many states.
48
What is the justification for outlawing strikes by fire fighters?
The severity of the potential impact on public safety is great.
49
__________________ is a method whereby representatives of employees (unions) and employers
determine the conditions of employment through direct negotiation.
Collective bargaining
50
Which statement is correct about a right-to-work state?
Workers cannot be compelled to join a union as a condition of employment.
51
When citizens ask fire officers about non-fire issues such as where the nearest flu shot clinic is and
fire officers do not know the answer, what should they do?
Make every effort to find the information and provide an answer to the citizen.
52
The fundamental goal of public safety education programs is to _______________________.
prevent injury, death, or loss due to fire or other types of incidents
53
The CERT program is designed to assist local communities in functioning effectively during the first
_____ hours after a catastrophic event.
72
54
What should a public information officer do if he or she has information that needs wide
dissemination?
Hold a press conference.
55
What is the primary focus of CERT?
Citizen disaster preparedness and response
56
In general, at which level should a problem be solved within an organization?
At the lowest possible level
57
Who are usually the best people to solve a problem?
Those directly involved with it
58
When solving a problem, what must be the fire officer’s primary focus area?
The best interest of the fire department
59
What is the first role of a fire officer when dealing with a citizen’s complaint?
Respond in a professional manner.
60
What is the primary purpose in requiring fire fighters to read a new policy and sign off that they
understand it?
This step ensures accountability.
61
A(n) __________ load is a force that is perpendicular to the plane of the section but does not pass
through the center of the section.
eccentric
62
Unprotected steel rods and cables can fail at what temperature?
800°F
63
Structural steel will fail at what temperature?
1000–1100°F
64
In a compartment fire, the space between the hot ceiling layer and the cooler air flowing into the
compartment is known as the:
neutral plane.
65
Which stage of fire is considered the second stage, in which the fire spreads to adjacent combustible
materials?
Free burning
66
Water storage tanks on the roof of a building containing reclamation water are considered which
type of load?
Dead load
67
When fighting a fire in a photovoltaic (PV) system, the first thing a fire fighter should do is:
de-energize the system at the control panels.
68
Which type of collapse usually occurs when the connection between the floor(s) and the loadbearing
walls is lost?
Pancake collapse
69
Which type of construction reduces volume of concealed spaces in which fire can hide from hose
streams?
Plank and beam
70
What name is given to the top and bottom members of a truss?
Chords
71
A brick veneer wall differs from a bearing wall in that __________ are usually visible in bearing
brick walls.
headers
72
The slow-burning characteristic of heavy timber construction is an advantage only as long as the fire
department:
maintains interior offensive operations.
73
What are masonry walls NOT designed to resist?
Lateral impact loads
74
What is the major difference between non-combustible construction and fire-resistive construction?
The level of fire resistance
75
At what temperature will steel members begin to fail, causing imminent collapse of the building?
1300°F
76
Steel is a good thermal conductor. Heat can be readily transmitted through what type of heat
transfer?
Conduction
77
In a cantilever beam, the tension is in the __________ of the beam.
top
78
In a continuous beam supported at more than two points, there is tension in the __________ of the
beam in the area over the tops of the columns, and tension in the __________ of the beams between
the columns.
top, bottom
79
A space within a beam where there is neither tension nor compression is known as the:
neutral plane.
80
What are the two purposes that concrete in fire-resistive construction serves?
Resists compressive stresses and protects the tensile strength of steel from fire
81
Which term describes the total quantity of combustible products that are within a room or space?
Fuel load
82
Which type of sprinkler system is used when there is a potential for freezing temperatures to affect
the system?
Dry-pipe
83
Which class of standpipe system is intended solely for use by fire fighters?
Class I
84
Which type of special extinguishing system is used to protect gasoline storage tanks?
Foam
85
A retail store is an example of which type of occupancy?
Mercantile
86
A ______________ is defined as an itemized summary of estimated or intended revenues and
expenditures.
budget
87
To be successful, grant proposals must _____________________.
match the goal of the grant program
88
Uniforms are classified as which type of expense?
Operating
89
Which type of expenditure is a durable item that will last more than one year?
Capital
90
Which budget covers the day-to-day costs of delivering services?
Operating
91
Which of the following is one of the three strategic priorities within the ICS?
Incident stabilization
92
Which member of the ICS command staff is the incident commander’s point of contact for
representatives from outside agencies?
Liaison officer
93
Which of the following is a member of the ICS general staff?
Logistics officer
94
In the ICS, what is the term used to describe a geographically defined area of responsibility?
Division
95
When a fire officer observes poor performance by an individual on an incident scene, the matter
should be discussed ___________.
in private
96
According to a study by Captain William R. Mora, three-fourths of LODDs occur _________.
in enclosed structures
97
The number of civilian deaths in structure fires is ___________ the number of fire fighter deaths in
those same structures.
much lower than
98
Which strategy is the most appropriate when a structure is fully involved in fire and the fire is
threatening adjacent exposures?
Defensive
99
According to the Rules of Engagement, who is responsible for observing and reporting unsafe
conditions?
Everyone at the incident
100
If a fire fighter is faced with a life-threatening situation due to deteriorating conditions, which
action should he or she take first?
Declare a mayday.
101
The level of supervision should be balanced with the nature of the assignment that is being performed and ___________________________.
the experience of the company members
102
Why should incident commanders request additional resources whenever all the units have been
or will be committed?
To provide an on-scene reserve
103
Fire development in modern structures is __________-limited.
ventilation
104
Which term describes the systematic process of gathering and processing information to evaluate
the situation and then translating that information into a plan to deal with the situation?
Size-up
105
Compared to legacy dwellings, modern structures __________.
have a shorter time to flashover
106
In fire cause determination, in addition to identifying and focusing on a possible cause that fits
the circumstances, the investigator must __________.
rule out all other possibilities
107
Who is responsible for completing the National Fire Incident Reporting System documents?
Incident commander
108
Which of the following is the most likely indicator that a fire was intentionally set?
Multiple points of origin
109
Which of the following statements about the requirement for a search warrant to collect evidence
at a fire scene is correct?
No warrant is required if collection is conducted while the fire service is on scene and the evidence is
in plain view.
110
What must a fire officer do after he or she requests a fire investigator to respond to a suspected
crime scene?
Secure the scene.
111
CRM advocates speaking directly, yet in a manner that does not _____________________.
challenge the authority of a superior
112
To be effective in a CRM environment, leaders must ____________________________.
be open to suggestions and constructive criticism
113
How do fire officers formally exercise leadership of a team?
Rank and authority
114
What is the focal point of CRM in conflict resolution?
What is right
115
Which of the following would be a violation of the sterile cockpit concept?
Conversation that is unrelated to the immediate task
116
Historically, what did it mean if a house had a fire mark on it?
The house was covered by insurance.
117
Most experts believe that span of control should extend to no more than _____ people.
5
118
Which of the four functions of management deals with developing a scheme, program, or method
that is worked out beforehand to accomplish an objective?
Planning
119
The formal fire department organization considers a fire officer to be the representative of whom?
The fire chief
120
Which of the following is a correct statement about sexual harassment?
It may be the result of offensive verbal conduct.
121
Fire fighters who want to initiate a harassment complaint have three methods for doing so. At
which level must they first make contact?
It is their choice.
122
What kind of process is communication?
Circular
123
Does the “message” component of the communication cycle need to be written?
No, it can be a facial expression or other nonverbal statement.
124
What makes a “grapevine” flourish?
Lack of timely and accurate official information
125
__________________ is the term for the report that describes what you have and what you are doing
at an incident, and that provides direction for other units that will be arriving.
Initial radio report
126
What is the leading cause of on-duty death among fire fighters?
Sudden cardiac death
127
What is the minimum number of personnel in an IRIC?
2
128
What is the basis for the air time ratings for SCBA?
Air consumption of an individual at rest
129
Which term is best defined as the systematic pursuit of practical results, using available human and
knowledge resources in a concerted and reinforcing way?
Management
130
Which branch of management handles the setting of compensation and benefits?
Human resources
131
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the most basic human needs, at the bottom of the
ladder, are known as _____________ needs.
physiological
132
What is one of the best tools to use to improve time efficiency?
Delegation
133
According to ___________________ theory, employees compare the outcomes they receive for their
inputs to those that other employees receive for their inputs.
equity
134
Which phrase best describes the types of incidents for which fire officers should conduct a brief
review as soon as possible after the incident?
All incidents
135
According to the text, which of the following is the best-known motivational authority?
Reinforcement
136
_____________ is the process of imparting knowledge or skill through systematic instruction.
Education
137
Which statement is correct about involving a student’s senses in the learning process to improve
retention of learned material?
The more senses involved in the learning process, the better.
138
According to the Conscious Competence Learning Matrix developed by Dr. Thomas Gordon in the
1970s, what is the highest level of competence a fire fighter may display?
Unconscious competence
139
In higher education, what is defined as a collegial process based on self- and peer assessment for
public accountability and improvement of academic quality?
Accreditation
140
Unless there is a problem with an employee’s performance, scheduled evaluations should be used
primarily as an opportunity to __________________.
discuss future goals and objectives
141
What is the evaluation error called in which a fire fighter is evaluated based on an officer’s personal
ideals instead of the job classification standards?
Frame of reference
142
Which type of evaluation error occurs when the fire officer rates the employee based on race,
religion, gender, age, or disability?
Personal bias
143
What is often used in place of strikes to influence public opinion in favor of the wants of fire fighters
during labor disputes?
Picketing
144
At what point in the grievance process can an employee contact a union representative to discuss an
issue?
Anytime
145
Which legislation requires time-and-a-half payment for overtime?
Fair Labor Standards Act
146
What is the primary focus of information collected by the census?
Demographics
147
What is a current demographic trend in the United States?
The country is becoming increasingly multi-ethnic.
148
Which role is a company officer most likely to play in risk reduction?
Connecting individuals with resources
149
When dealing with an individual who is expressing a concern or a problem, the fire officer should
focus on __________.
active listening
150
What is the primary purpose in requiring fire fighters to read a new policy and sign off that they
understand it?
This step ensures accountability.
151
What does the blue field on an NFPA 704 symbol represent?
Health
152
When a life-threatening hazard is discovered during an inspection, correction must occur
__________.
immediately
153
Which of the following is a common electrical hazard found during fire inspections?
Misuse of extension cords
154
What is the main goal of a code compliance inspection on public assembly occupancies?
To clear access and egress paths
155
What can an agency conduct to identify hazards and the probability of the hazard occurring?
Risk assessment
156
A ______________ is defined as an itemized summary of estimated or intended revenues and
expenditures.
budget
157
What is the first step in the budget process?
Identification of needs and required resources
158
To be successful, grant proposals must _____________________.
match the goal of the grant program
159
In a career fire department, approximately _____ of the budget goes to personnel expenses.
90 percent
160
Which of the following is a capital item?
SCBA
161
One of the benefits of the ICS is to maintain ________________.
a manageable span of control
162
In the ICS, which command level defines the actions necessary to achieve the strategic goals?
Tactical
163
Which of the following is one of the positions on the ICS command staff?
Public information officer
164
Which of the following is one of the three immediate command functions that must be accomplished
as part of the first-arriving fire officer’s initial radio report?
Setting the action plan
165
What is the cause of the majority of fire fighter non-cardiac-related fatalities that occur while
operating inside structures?
Smoke inhalation
166
According to the Rules of Engagement, who makes the final decision regarding whether to proceed
with an assigned objective?
The company tasked with achieving the objective
167
According to studies conducted by UL, flashover in a modern home occurs in about _____.
3 minutes and 40 seconds
168
What is the overriding responsibility of fire officers in fire attack?
Supervising the company while assigned tasks are being performed
169
During operations, if a fire officer encounters a problem or hazard, when should he or she relay that
information to Command?
As soon as the fire officer realizes there is a problem or hazard
170
What is the key to using an authoritative style of leadership effectively?
Developing the trust and confidence of the subordinates before the incident
171
A good size-up requires officers to look carefully and assess what can be seen, and to ____________
about what cannot be seen.
make reasonable assumptions
172
When is the fire cause investigation conducted?
After the fire is extinguished, but before the property is turned back over to the owner
173
Which cause is identified in the largest number of fires?
Cooking
174
A fire’s point of origin is usually determined by _________________________.
interpreting fire pattern evidence
175
What is the relationship between char and a fire’s point of origin?
The deeper the char, the closer that material was to the point of origin.
176
CRM advocates speaking directly, yet in a manner that does not _____________________.
challenge the authority of a superior
177
To be effective in a CRM environment, leaders must ____________________________.
be open to suggestions and constructive criticism
178
_______________ is the successful transfer and understanding of a thought from one person to
another.
Communication
179
Which of the following is an effective listening technique that a fire officer should use during an
argument?
Refrain from commenting until the other person is finished.
