Firefighter Exam Preparation Test Quiz (UPDATED)

Answer questions 1–5 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Ventilation is necessary to improve the fire environment for firefighters to approach a fire with a hose line for extinguishment. Additionally, smoke, heat, and gases should be vented above the fire to prohibit conditions necessary for a flashover. This should be completed as soon as possible.Vertical ventilation will delay heat buildup at the ceiling level of the burning room and it may also delay flashover long enough to allow a quick search for a victim. In addition, it may assist in the advancement of an attack hose line. Ventilation decisions should be part of initial size-up. If it is determined that ventilation cannot be completed because of unsafe areas or conditions (e.g., spongy roof, trusses exposed to fire, etc.), then firefighters should not be exposed or operate under the unsafe areas or conditions.

Question 1: The main purpose of this passage is to

Answer questions 1–5 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Ventilation is necessary to improve the fire environment for firefighters to approach a fire with a hose line for extinguishment. Additionally, smoke, heat, and gases should be vented above the fire to prohibit conditions necessary for a flashover. This should be completed as soon as possible.Vertical ventilation will delay heat buildup at the ceiling level of the burning room and it may also delay flashover long enough to allow a quick search for a victim. In addition, it may assist in the advancement of an attack hose line. Ventilation decisions should be part of initial size-up. If it is determined that ventilation cannot be completed because of unsafe areas or conditions (e.g., spongy roof, trusses exposed to fire, etc.), then firefighters should not be exposed or operate under the unsafe areas or conditions.

Question 2: According to the passage, how should smoke, heat, and gases be ventilated?

Answer questions 1–5 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Ventilation is necessary to improve the fire environment for firefighters to approach a fire with a hose line for extinguishment. Additionally, smoke, heat, and gases should be vented above the fire to prohibit conditions necessary for a flashover. This should be completed as soon as possible.Vertical ventilation will delay heat buildup at the ceiling level of the burning room and it may also delay flashover long enough to allow a quick search for a victim. In addition, it may assist in the advancement of an attack hose line. Ventilation decisions should be part of initial size-up. If it is determined that ventilation cannot be completed because of unsafe areas or conditions (e.g., spongy roof, trusses exposed to fire, etc.), then firefighters should not be exposed or operate under the unsafe areas or conditions.

Question 3: According to the passage, vertical ventilation

Answer questions 1–5 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Ventilation is necessary to improve the fire environment for firefighters to approach a fire with a hose line for extinguishment. Additionally, smoke, heat, and gases should be vented above the fire to prohibit conditions necessary for a flashover. This should be completed as soon as possible.Vertical ventilation will delay heat buildup at the ceiling level of the burning room and it may also delay flashover long enough to allow a quick search for a victim. In addition, it may assist in the advancement of an attack hose line. Ventilation decisions should be part of initial size-up. If it is determined that ventilation cannot be completed because of unsafe areas or conditions (e.g., spongy roof, trusses exposed to fire, etc.), then firefighters should not be exposed or operate under the unsafe areas or conditions.

Question 4: You arrive on scene at a structure fire before any other apparatus. According to the passage, when should you set up a plan to ventilate the structure?

Answer questions 1–5 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Ventilation is necessary to improve the fire environment for firefighters to approach a fire with a hose line for extinguishment. Additionally, smoke, heat, and gases should be vented above the fire to prohibit conditions necessary for a flashover. This should be completed as soon as possible.Vertical ventilation will delay heat buildup at the ceiling level of the burning room and it may also delay flashover long enough to allow a quick search for a victim. In addition, it may assist in the advancement of an attack hose line. Ventilation decisions should be part of initial size-up. If it is determined that ventilation cannot be completed because of unsafe areas or conditions (e.g., spongy roof, trusses exposed to fire, etc.), then firefighters should not be exposed or operate under the unsafe areas or conditions.

Question 5: With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?

Answer questions 6–9 by referring to the following table, which provides information on alarm incident response times.

Question 6: According to the chart, the greatest number of incidents had a response time of

Answer questions 6–9 by referring to the following table, which provides information on alarm incident response times.

Question 7: About how many incidents had a response time of over 14 minutes?

Answer questions 6–9 by referring to the following table, which provides information on alarm incident response times.

Question 8: Which of the following response times had the lowest number of incidents?

Answer questions 6–9 by referring to the following table, which provides information on alarm incident response times.

Question 8: On the average, which two response times had the same number of incidents?

Answer questions 10–14 based solely on the information in the following passage.

The physiological effects of excessive noise exposure have been found in both animal and human studies. In one study,the exposure of guinea pigs to a siren-like noise for fairly long periods of time eventually caused the onset of endocrine and metabolic deficits that decreased the animals’ ability to deal with the noise stress. These deficits will reduce the ability to respond to another startle response situation. Additional siren exposure brought about gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular disease, and even tissue damage in the kidneys and livers of the animals. Although the results of this study and similar animal studies have been critiqued,they do demonstrate the existence of extra-auditory effects.

Studies of firefighters’ reactions to the alarm signal indicate that the onset of both physiological and psychological stress induces measurable biological effects. Although the physical activity necessary to get into a truck following an alarm signal should not increase the heart rate to more than around 100 beats per minute, studies have found that heartbeats, particularly among younger firefighters, increased to as many as 130 to 150 beats per minute. Several studies have shown increases in pulse rate after the alarm signals from between 47 to 61 beats per minute. It has been theorized that such excited responses to the alarm signal could cause an excessive discharge of catecholamines, which have been shown to disrupt the integrity of the arteries’ endothelial lining in animals. A disruption in the integrity of the endothelial lining is believed to cause premature atherosclerosis, and could be a contributing factor to the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease among firefighters.

Question 10. What is the most likely meaning of physiological as used in this passage?

Answer questions 10–14 based solely on the information in the following passage.

The physiological effects of excessive noise exposure have been found in both animal and human studies. In one study,the exposure of guinea pigs to a siren-like noise for fairly long periods of time eventually caused the onset of endocrine and metabolic deficits that decreased the animals’ ability to deal with the noise stress. These deficits will reduce the ability to respond to another startle response situation. Additional siren exposure brought about gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular disease, and even tissue damage in the kidneys and livers of the animals. Although the results of this study and similar animal studies have been critiqued,they do demonstrate the existence of extra-auditory effects.

Studies of firefighters’ reactions to the alarm signal indicate that the onset of both physiological and psychological stress induces measurable biological effects. Although the physical activity necessary to get into a truck following an alarm signal should not increase the heart rate to more than around 100 beats per minute, studies have found that heartbeats, particularly among younger firefighters, increased to as many as 130 to 150 beats per minute. Several studies have shown increases in pulse rate after the alarm signals from between 47 to 61 beats per minute. It has been theorized that such excited responses to the alarm signal could cause an excessive discharge of catecholamines, which have been shown to disrupt the integrity of the arteries’ endothelial lining in animals. A disruption in the integrity of the endothelial lining is believed to cause premature atherosclerosis, and could be a contributing factor to the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease among firefighters.

Question 11. The basic idea expressed in this passage is that

Answer questions 10–14 based solely on the information in the following passage.

The physiological effects of excessive noise exposure have been found in both animal and human studies. In one study,the exposure of guinea pigs to a siren-like noise for fairly long periods of time eventually caused the onset of endocrine and metabolic deficits that decreased the animals’ ability to deal with the noise stress. These deficits will reduce the ability to respond to another startle response situation. Additional siren exposure brought about gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular disease, and even tissue damage in the kidneys and livers of the animals. Although the results of this study and similar animal studies have been critiqued,they do demonstrate the existence of extra-auditory effects.

Studies of firefighters’ reactions to the alarm signal indicate that the onset of both physiological and psychological stress induces measurable biological effects. Although the physical activity necessary to get into a truck following an alarm signal should not increase the heart rate to more than around 100 beats per minute, studies have found that heartbeats, particularly among younger firefighters, increased to as many as 130 to 150 beats per minute. Several studies have shown increases in pulse rate after the alarm signals from between 47 to 61 beats per minute. It has been theorized that such excited responses to the alarm signal could cause an excessive discharge of catecholamines, which have been shown to disrupt the integrity of the arteries’ endothelial lining in animals. A disruption in the integrity of the endothelial lining is believed to cause premature atherosclerosis, and could be a contributing factor to the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease among firefighters.

Question 11. According to the passage, when the alarm signal sounds,

Answer questions 10–14 based solely on the information in the following passage.

The physiological effects of excessive noise exposure have been found in both animal and human studies. In one study,the exposure of guinea pigs to a siren-like noise for fairly long periods of time eventually caused the onset of endocrine and metabolic deficits that decreased the animals’ ability to deal with the noise stress. These deficits will reduce the ability to respond to another startle response situation. Additional siren exposure brought about gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular disease, and even tissue damage in the kidneys and livers of the animals. Although the results of this study and similar animal studies have been critiqued,they do demonstrate the existence of extra-auditory effects.

Studies of firefighters’ reactions to the alarm signal indicate that the onset of both physiological and psychological stress induces measurable biological effects. Although the physical activity necessary to get into a truck following an alarm signal should not increase the heart rate to more than around 100 beats per minute, studies have found that heartbeats, particularly among younger firefighters, increased to as many as 130 to 150 beats per minute. Several studies have shown increases in pulse rate after the alarm signals from between 47 to 61 beats per minute. It has been theorized that such excited responses to the alarm signal could cause an excessive discharge of catecholamines, which have been shown to disrupt the integrity of the arteries’ endothelial lining in animals. A disruption in the integrity of the endothelial lining is believed to cause premature atherosclerosis, and could be a contributing factor to the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease among firefighters.

Question 13. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

Answer questions 10–14 based solely on the information in the following passage.

The physiological effects of excessive noise exposure have been found in both animal and human studies. In one study,the exposure of guinea pigs to a siren-like noise for fairly long periods of time eventually caused the onset of endocrine and metabolic deficits that decreased the animals’ ability to deal with the noise stress. These deficits will reduce the ability to respond to another startle response situation. Additional siren exposure brought about gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular disease, and even tissue damage in the kidneys and livers of the animals. Although the results of this study and similar animal studies have been critiqued,they do demonstrate the existence of extra-auditory effects.

Studies of firefighters’ reactions to the alarm signal indicate that the onset of both physiological and psychological stress induces measurable biological effects. Although the physical activity necessary to get into a truck following an alarm signal should not increase the heart rate to more than around 100 beats per minute, studies have found that heartbeats, particularly among younger firefighters, increased to as many as 130 to 150 beats per minute. Several studies have shown increases in pulse rate after the alarm signals from between 47 to 61 beats per minute. It has been theorized that such excited responses to the alarm signal could cause an excessive discharge of catecholamines, which have been shown to disrupt the integrity of the arteries’ endothelial lining in animals. A disruption in the integrity of the endothelial lining is believed to cause premature atherosclerosis, and could be a contributing factor to the higher incidence of cardiovascular disease among firefighters.

Question 14. You can infer from the article that firefighters

Answer questions 15–18 by referring to the following table, which shows forest fires in a certain region during the month of June.

Question 15: According to the table, suspected arson fires

Answer questions 15–18 by referring to the following table, which shows forest fires in a certain region during the month of June.

Question 16: One week after the Voorhees Air Base fire, where did a fire occur?

Answer questions 15–18 by referring to the following table, which shows forest fires in a certain region during the month of June.

Question 17: Which fire consumed the most acreage in June 2006?

Answer questions 15–18 by referring to the following table, which shows forest fires in a certain region during the month of June.

Question 18: Which of the following was the most common cause of fires?

Answer questions 19–23 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Accountability on the fire ground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. It is the responsibility of every officer to account for every firefighter assigned to his or her company and to relay this information to the Incident Commander. Firefighters should not work beyond the sight or sound of the supervising officer unless they are equipped with portable radios. The crew leader should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. When the assigned duties are completed, the crew should radio this information to the supervisor, then return to the supervisor for additional duties. As a fire escalates and additional fire companies respond, a communication assistant with a command board should assist the Incident Commander with accounting for all firefighter companies at the fire, at the staging area, and at rehabilitation. One of the most important aids for accountability at an incident is the Incident Command System. The ICS is a management tool that defines the roles and responsibilities of all units responding to an incident. It enables one individual to have better control of the incident scene. This system works on an understanding among the crew that the person in charge will be standing back from the incident, focusing on the entire scene.

Question 19: The main purpose of this passage is to

Answer questions 19–23 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Accountability on the fire ground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. It is the responsibility of every officer to account for every firefighter assigned to his or her company and to relay this information to the Incident Commander. Firefighters should not work beyond the sight or sound of the supervising officer unless they are equipped with portable radios. The crew leader should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. When the assigned duties are completed, the crew should radio this information to the supervisor, then return to the supervisor for additional duties. As a fire escalates and additional fire companies respond, a communication assistant with a command board should assist the Incident Commander with accounting for all firefighter companies at the fire, at the staging area, and at rehabilitation. One of the most important aids for accountability at an incident is the Incident Command System. The ICS is a management tool that defines the roles and responsibilities of all units responding to an incident. It enables one individual to have better control of the incident scene. This system works on an understanding among the crew that the person in charge will be standing back from the incident, focusing on the entire scene.

Question 20: According to the passage, what should the crew leader communicate to the supervisor?

Answer questions 19–23 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Accountability on the fire ground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. It is the responsibility of every officer to account for every firefighter assigned to his or her company and to relay this information to the Incident Commander. Firefighters should not work beyond the sight or sound of the supervising officer unless they are equipped with portable radios. The crew leader should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. When the assigned duties are completed, the crew should radio this information to the supervisor, then return to the supervisor for additional duties. As a fire escalates and additional fire companies respond, a communication assistant with a command board should assist the Incident Commander with accounting for all firefighter companies at the fire, at the staging area, and at rehabilitation. One of the most important aids for accountability at an incident is the Incident Command System. The ICS is a management tool that defines the roles and responsibilities of all units responding to an incident. It enables one individual to have better control of the incident scene. This system works on an understanding among the crew that the person in charge will be standing back from the incident, focusing on the entire scene.

Question 21: According to the passage, the Incident Command System is important because it

Answer questions 19–23 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Accountability on the fire ground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. It is the responsibility of every officer to account for every firefighter assigned to his or her company and to relay this information to the Incident Commander. Firefighters should not work beyond the sight or sound of the supervising officer unless they are equipped with portable radios. The crew leader should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. When the assigned duties are completed, the crew should radio this information to the supervisor, then return to the supervisor for additional duties. As a fire escalates and additional fire companies respond, a communication assistant with a command board should assist the Incident Commander with accounting for all firefighter companies at the fire, at the staging area, and at rehabilitation. One of the most important aids for accountability at an incident is the Incident Command System. The ICS is a management tool that defines the roles and responsibilities of all units responding to an incident. It enables one individual to have better control of the incident scene. This system works on an understanding among the crew that the person in charge will be standing back from the incident, focusing on the entire scene.

Question 22: According to the passage, which of the following items is most vital for personnel accountability?

Answer questions 19–23 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Accountability on the fire ground is paramount and may be accomplished by several methods. It is the responsibility of every officer to account for every firefighter assigned to his or her company and to relay this information to the Incident Commander. Firefighters should not work beyond the sight or sound of the supervising officer unless they are equipped with portable radios. The crew leader should communicate with the supervising officer by portable radio to ensure accountability and indicate completion of assignments and duties. When the assigned duties are completed, the crew should radio this information to the supervisor, then return to the supervisor for additional duties. As a fire escalates and additional fire companies respond, a communication assistant with a command board should assist the Incident Commander with accounting for all firefighter companies at the fire, at the staging area, and at rehabilitation. One of the most important aids for accountability at an incident is the Incident Command System. The ICS is a management tool that defines the roles and responsibilities of all units responding to an incident. It enables one individual to have better control of the incident scene. This system works on an understanding among the crew that the person in charge will be standing back from the incident, focusing on the entire scene.

Question 23: Which of the following does the passage suggest is the greatest problem for the fire ground commander?

Answer questions 24–27 by referring to the following table, which shows arson statistics for 2005 and 2006.

Question 24: On the average, what two months have the lowest number of daily fires?

Answer questions 24–27 by referring to the following table, which shows arson statistics for 2005 and 2006.

Question 25: Statistics show that incendiary and suspicious fires account for 22% of all fires on the average. Using the daily seasonal averages, how many fires were of incendiary and suspicious origin?

Answer questions 24–27 by referring to the following table, which shows arson statistics for 2005 and 2006.

Question 26: During the winter, heating fires account for 27% and cooking fires account for 17% of the structure fires. Using the Daily Seasonal Average, how many fires of these types could you expect on an average winter day in the United States?

Answer questions 24–27 by referring to the following table, which shows arson statistics for 2005 and 2006.

Question 27: Which of the following is the best explanation for the jump in the average daily incidence of fire during July?

Answer questions 28–32 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Slowly, the fire service is shedding light on a situation that rarely occurs but is nevertheless serious: Some firefighters intentionally start fires. A very small percentage of otherwise trustworthy firefighters cause the very flames they are dispatched to put out. Most fire departments will never have a member indicted for arson. But for those that do, the impact is significant. Research conducted by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime suggests that a telltale sign that a firefighter may be setting fires is a sudden increase in nuisance fires within a company’s first due area. The research also indicates that firefighter arson offenders tend to be relatively new to the department, typically with fewer than three years as a member. An FBI study of firefighter arson showed that the top motive was excitement, especially among young firefighters who were eager to put their training to practical use, and to be seen as heroes to fellow firefighters and the communities they served.

Firefighter arsonists often escalate their fires over time. The report indicates that firefighter arsonists, as is typical of most arsonists, generally start with nuisance fires, such as dumpsters, trash piles, or vegetation. Eventually, the firefighter arsonist graduates to other targets that have more damage potential, such as abandoned vehicles or unoccupied structures. Sometimes, even occupied structures are threatened by the arsonist’s actions.

Given the far-reaching effects that criminal fire setting by a firefighter can cause, awareness and action are clearly necessary. The impact of firefighter arson can be severe. People die or are seriously injured, including fellow firefighters who respond to the call. Homes are destroyed. An arsonist from within the fire department can disgrace the whole department, and his or her actions diminish public trust. Firefighter arson task forces have been organized to prevent the crime. Education, training, and appropriate criminal background and reference checks are key components of the programs.

Question 28: Which of the following is not true about firefighter arsonists?

Answer questions 28–32 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Slowly, the fire service is shedding light on a situation that rarely occurs but is nevertheless serious: Some firefighters intentionally start fires. A very small percentage of otherwise trustworthy firefighters cause the very flames they are dispatched to put out. Most fire departments will never have a member indicted for arson. But for those that do, the impact is significant. Research conducted by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime suggests that a telltale sign that a firefighter may be setting fires is a sudden increase in nuisance fires within a company’s first due area. The research also indicates that firefighter arson offenders tend to be relatively new to the department, typically with fewer than three years as a member. An FBI study of firefighter arson showed that the top motive was excitement, especially among young firefighters who were eager to put their training to practical use, and to be seen as heroes to fellow firefighters and the communities they served.

Firefighter arsonists often escalate their fires over time. The report indicates that firefighter arsonists, as is typical of most arsonists, generally start with nuisance fires, such as dumpsters, trash piles, or vegetation. Eventually, the firefighter arsonist graduates to other targets that have more damage potential, such as abandoned vehicles or unoccupied structures. Sometimes, even occupied structures are threatened by the arsonist’s actions.

Given the far-reaching effects that criminal fire setting by a firefighter can cause, awareness and action are clearly necessary. The impact of firefighter arson can be severe. People die or are seriously injured, including fellow firefighters who respond to the call. Homes are destroyed. An arsonist from within the fire department can disgrace the whole department, and his or her actions diminish public trust. Firefighter arson task forces have been organized to prevent the crime. Education, training, and appropriate criminal background and reference checks are key components of the programs.

Question 29: Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

Answer questions 28–32 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Slowly, the fire service is shedding light on a situation that rarely occurs but is nevertheless serious: Some firefighters intentionally start fires. A very small percentage of otherwise trustworthy firefighters cause the very flames they are dispatched to put out. Most fire departments will never have a member indicted for arson. But for those that do, the impact is significant. Research conducted by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime suggests that a telltale sign that a firefighter may be setting fires is a sudden increase in nuisance fires within a company’s first due area. The research also indicates that firefighter arson offenders tend to be relatively new to the department, typically with fewer than three years as a member. An FBI study of firefighter arson showed that the top motive was excitement, especially among young firefighters who were eager to put their training to practical use, and to be seen as heroes to fellow firefighters and the communities they served.

Firefighter arsonists often escalate their fires over time. The report indicates that firefighter arsonists, as is typical of most arsonists, generally start with nuisance fires, such as dumpsters, trash piles, or vegetation. Eventually, the firefighter arsonist graduates to other targets that have more damage potential, such as abandoned vehicles or unoccupied structures. Sometimes, even occupied structures are threatened by the arsonist’s actions.

Given the far-reaching effects that criminal fire setting by a firefighter can cause, awareness and action are clearly necessary. The impact of firefighter arson can be severe. People die or are seriously injured, including fellow firefighters who respond to the call. Homes are destroyed. An arsonist from within the fire department can disgrace the whole department, and his or her actions diminish public trust. Firefighter arson task forces have been organized to prevent the crime. Education, training, and appropriate criminal background and reference checks are key components of the programs.

Question 30: Which of the following is not a key component of a program to prevent this crime?

Answer questions 28–32 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Slowly, the fire service is shedding light on a situation that rarely occurs but is nevertheless serious: Some firefighters intentionally start fires. A very small percentage of otherwise trustworthy firefighters cause the very flames they are dispatched to put out. Most fire departments will never have a member indicted for arson. But for those that do, the impact is significant. Research conducted by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime suggests that a telltale sign that a firefighter may be setting fires is a sudden increase in nuisance fires within a company’s first due area. The research also indicates that firefighter arson offenders tend to be relatively new to the department, typically with fewer than three years as a member. An FBI study of firefighter arson showed that the top motive was excitement, especially among young firefighters who were eager to put their training to practical use, and to be seen as heroes to fellow firefighters and the communities they served.

Firefighter arsonists often escalate their fires over time. The report indicates that firefighter arsonists, as is typical of most arsonists, generally start with nuisance fires, such as dumpsters, trash piles, or vegetation. Eventually, the firefighter arsonist graduates to other targets that have more damage potential, such as abandoned vehicles or unoccupied structures. Sometimes, even occupied structures are threatened by the arsonist’s actions.

Given the far-reaching effects that criminal fire setting by a firefighter can cause, awareness and action are clearly necessary. The impact of firefighter arson can be severe. People die or are seriously injured, including fellow firefighters who respond to the call. Homes are destroyed. An arsonist from within the fire department can disgrace the whole department, and his or her actions diminish public trust. Firefighter arson task forces have been organized to prevent the crime. Education, training, and appropriate criminal background and reference checks are key components of the programs.

Question 31: The passage discusses education and training as part of a program to prevent firefighter arson. What do you think is the purpose of this part of the program?

Answer questions 28–32 based solely on the information in the following passage.

Slowly, the fire service is shedding light on a situation that rarely occurs but is nevertheless serious: Some firefighters intentionally start fires. A very small percentage of otherwise trustworthy firefighters cause the very flames they are dispatched to put out. Most fire departments will never have a member indicted for arson. But for those that do, the impact is significant. Research conducted by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime suggests that a telltale sign that a firefighter may be setting fires is a sudden increase in nuisance fires within a company’s first due area. The research also indicates that firefighter arson offenders tend to be relatively new to the department, typically with fewer than three years as a member. An FBI study of firefighter arson showed that the top motive was excitement, especially among young firefighters who were eager to put their training to practical use, and to be seen as heroes to fellow firefighters and the communities they served.

Firefighter arsonists often escalate their fires over time. The report indicates that firefighter arsonists, as is typical of most arsonists, generally start with nuisance fires, such as dumpsters, trash piles, or vegetation. Eventually, the firefighter arsonist graduates to other targets that have more damage potential, such as abandoned vehicles or unoccupied structures. Sometimes, even occupied structures are threatened by the arsonist’s actions.

Given the far-reaching effects that criminal fire setting by a firefighter can cause, awareness and action are clearly necessary. The impact of firefighter arson can be severe. People die or are seriously injured, including fellow firefighters who respond to the call. Homes are destroyed. An arsonist from within the fire department can disgrace the whole department, and his or her actions diminish public trust. Firefighter arson task forces have been organized to prevent the crime. Education, training, and appropriate criminal background and reference checks are key components of the programs.

Question 32: One of the main problems with all types of arson is that

Answer questions 33–35 by referring to the following table, which lists numerical data regarding fire department call volume

In which of the following years did the greatest number of fire incidents occur?

Answer questions 33–35 by referring to the following table, which lists numerical data regarding fire department call volume

Question 34: Which of the following years had the lowest number of total Rescue/EMS incidents?

Answer questions 33–35 by referring to the following table, which lists numerical data regarding fire department call volume

Question 35: In 2007, which month had the greatest number of Rescue/EMS incidents?