FREE CPS Firefighter Test Situational Judgment Scenarios Questions and Answers

Question 1

You are inside a burning structure performing a search under the direction of your company officer, Captain Davis.
A Battalion Chief, whom you don't typically work with, appears at a window and orders you to immediately exit and help with exterior ventilation.
Your captain is in an adjacent room and cannot be seen or heard.

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the Chief's order, but state that you must first notify your company officer of the new assignment.

Answer

Acknowledge the Chief's order and immediately exit to perform ventilation.

Answer

Ignore the Chief and continue with the search as originally assigned by your captain.

Answer

Tell the Chief you cannot comply because your captain gave you a different assignment.

Question 2

During station cleanup, you observe a senior firefighter using a wooden stepladder that you know has been flagged for removal due to a crack. When you point it out, the firefighter dismisses your concern, saying, 'It's fine, I'm only going up a few steps.' What is the most appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Respectfully state that for their safety you are taking the ladder out of service, and offer to get them the proper equipment.

Answer

Immediately report the unsafe act to your company officer.

Answer

Walk away so you are not involved if the ladder fails.

Answer

Allow the senior firefighter to continue, as their experience means they can judge the risk appropriately.

Question 3

Your engine company stops at a grocery store to buy food for the station meal. A citizen approaches you and complains that using the fire engine for errands is a waste of taxpayer money. Which of the following is the most professional response?

Accepted Answer

Calmly explain that crews work 24-hour shifts and must acquire their own food, but remain in service with their apparatus to respond immediately to any calls.

Answer

Inform the citizen that you are permitted to be there and they should direct complaints to the fire chief.

Answer

Ignore the citizen and continue with your shopping to avoid an argument.

Answer

Tell the citizen that you are on-duty and can't talk, then return to the engine.

Question 4

Just before the start of a shift, you notice your partner, who is assigned to drive the apparatus, has slurred speech and seems unsteady. They insist they are just tired. What is the most critical and immediate action you must take?

Accepted Answer

Privately and immediately report your specific observations to your direct supervisor.

Answer

Offer to drive the apparatus for the first half of the shift to give them time to recover.

Answer

Confront your partner and demand that they call in sick.

Answer

Wait to see if their condition improves after the morning briefing.

Question 5

You are the first unit on scene of a car fire in a parking lot, well away from any buildings. As your officer is sizing up the scene, a frantic person runs up to you claiming their child is locked inside a car three rows away. What should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Immediately get your officer's attention and relay the information about the locked child.

Answer

Tell the person to stand back while you focus on the car fire as it is the more immediate hazard.

Answer

Abandon the car fire and run to the other vehicle to assess the situation with the child.

Answer

Tell the person to call 911 for the other emergency.

Question 6

At the scene of a medical emergency in a private residence, a family member is becoming very agitated, interfering with patient care by yelling at paramedics and crowding them. Which is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Try to calmly guide the family member to another room and explain that the paramedics need space to work effectively for the patient's benefit.

Answer

Order the family member to leave the house immediately.

Answer

Physically remove the family member from the room to protect the patient.

Answer

Request that a police officer respond to the scene to handle the family member.