Firefighter Strategies and Tactics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the 'rescue' priority in the RECEO acronym primarily focus on?
- Removing trapped or endangered occupants (Correct answer)
- Ventilating the structure
- Exposing hidden fire
- Overhauling the scene
Correct answer: Removing trapped or endangered occupants
Rescue is the removal of victims from a hazardous environment and is the highest tactical priority.
Question 2: An offensive fire attack is generally appropriate when:
- The structure is fully involved and collapsing
- Conditions allow interior crews to safely advance on the fire (Correct answer)
- There are no available water supplies
- The building is abandoned and unsafe
Correct answer: Conditions allow interior crews to safely advance on the fire
Offensive attacks involve interior operations and require tenable, survivable conditions for crews.
Question 3: What is the main purpose of establishing a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)?
- To handle traffic control
- To stand ready to rescue trapped or downed firefighters (Correct answer)
- To overhaul the structure
- To perform salvage operations
Correct answer: To stand ready to rescue trapped or downed firefighters
A RIT is dedicated to the immediate rescue of firefighters who become lost, trapped, or incapacitated.
Question 4: Which factor most directly determines whether a defensive attack should be used?
- The color of the smoke only
- Structural integrity and risk to firefighters versus savable property (Correct answer)
- The time of day
- The number of bystanders present
Correct answer: Structural integrity and risk to firefighters versus savable property
Defensive operations are chosen when interior risk outweighs the value of property that can be saved.
Question 5: Coordinated ventilation during an interior attack is intended to:
- Increase the fire's growth rate
- Improve visibility and remove heat and smoke ahead of the hose line (Correct answer)
- Eliminate the need for water
- Replace the need for rescue
Correct answer: Improve visibility and remove heat and smoke ahead of the hose line
Proper ventilation releases heat and smoke, improving conditions for advancing crews when coordinated with the attack.
Question 6: What does 'reading smoke' help a firefighter predict?
- The exact age of the building
- Fire location, intensity, and potential for flashover or backdraft (Correct answer)
- The water main pressure
- The owner's insurance status
Correct answer: Fire location, intensity, and potential for flashover or backdraft
Smoke volume, velocity, density, and color give clues about fire behavior and impending dangerous events.
Question 7: The transitional attack technique involves:
- Only defensive master streams
- A brief exterior stream into the fire room before transitioning to interior attack (Correct answer)
- Skipping ventilation entirely
- Abandoning the structure immediately
Correct answer: A brief exterior stream into the fire room before transitioning to interior attack
A transitional attack hits the fire from outside to reset conditions, then crews move inside to finish extinguishment.
Firefighter Strategies and Tactics 2
What does the 'rescue' priority in the RECEO acronym primarily focus on?