Wildland Firefighting Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Get ready for the Wildland Firefighting Exam. Study essential skills and knowledge with our interactive quizzes and in-depth resources. Prepare yourself to ace the exam and embark on an essential career in fire management!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Fires spreading upslope or with the wind assume what shape?

Tapered
Wedge
Arc
Circle

The correct answer is: Wedge

Fires that are spreading upslope or being influenced by the wind typically take on a wedge shape. This occurs because the fire spreads more rapidly in the direction of the slope or downwind, creating a leading edge that is broader than the rear of the fire. The shape resembles a wedge being pushed through fuel, with the base of the wedge representing the advancing front of the fire while the sides taper back towards the origin. This wedge formation is critical for understanding fire behavior, as it indicates how the fire might impact the landscape and how firefighting efforts can be effectively directed. This shape also correlates with the dynamics of heat and wind, contributing to the fire's growth pattern and making it essential for firefighters to predict and strategize their containment efforts accordingly.