LCES
What does LCES stand for?
A. Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones
B. Leadership, Control, Escape, Safety
C. Location, Communication, Entry, Survival
D. Lookouts, Command, Entry, Safety
✅ A. Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones
What is one of the first rapid mitigation actions when preparing a structure?
A. Set up long hose lays around the structure
B. Remove small combustibles immediately next to the structure
C. Wait for additional resources
D. Open all windows for ventilation
✅ B. Remove small combustibles immediately next to the structure
Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
Question:
What is the purpose of keeping informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts?
A. To plan meals and breaks
B. To understand current and expected fire behavior
C. To track other crews
D. To reduce radio traffic
✅ B. To understand current and expected fire behavior
Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.
Question:
Which of the following best reflects this order?
A. React quickly without thinking
B. Stay calm and make clear, decisive decisions
C. Wait for instructions before acting
D. Focus only on your assigned task
✅ B. Stay calm and make clear, decisive decisions
Fire not scouted and sized up
Question:
Why is it dangerous when a fire is not scouted and sized up?
A. It slows down operations
B. You may not understand fire behavior or hazards
C. It uses more resources
D. It increases paperwork
✅ B. You may not understand fire behavior or hazards
No communication link with crewmembers or supervisor
Question:
Why is lack of communication a watch out situation?
A. It saves battery life
B. It reduces radio traffic
C. You cannot receive updates or emergency information
D. It improves independence
✅ C. You cannot receive updates or emergency information
Which of the following is the primary responsibility of a lookout?
A. Operate radios for the crew
B. Monitor fire behavior and identify hazards
C. Build fireline ahead of the crew
D. Drive engines to the fire
✅ B. Monitor fire behavior and identify hazards
Why should doors and windows be closed (but left unlocked) during structure prep?
A. To allow airflow through the structure
B. To prevent firebrands from entering while maintaining access for firefighters
C. To keep civilians out
D. To reduce water usage
✅ B. To prevent firebrands from entering while maintaining access for firefighters
Know what your fire is doing at all times.
Question:
Why is it critical to know what your fire is doing at all times?
A. To improve paperwork accuracy
B. To anticipate changes in fire behavior and hazards
C. To communicate less
D. To reduce staffing needs
✅ B. To anticipate changes in fire behavior and hazards
Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces.
Question:
Who should you maintain prompt communication with?
A. Dispatch only
B. Your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces
C. Only your squad boss
D. Air resources only
✅ B. Your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces
In country not seen in daylight
Question:
What is a risk of working in country not seen in daylight?
A. Better fire visibility
B. Reduced need for lookouts
C. Unknown hazards and terrain features
D. Easier navigation
✅ C. Unknown hazards and terrain features
Constructing line without safe anchor point
Question:
What is the risk of constructing fireline without a safe anchor point?
A. Slower line construction
B. Fire can outflank or burn around you
C. Increased water use
D. Easier suppression
✅ B. Fire can outflank or burn around you
When should escape routes be identified and communicated?
A. Only when fire behavior increases
B. After the safety zone is established
C. Before engaging and throughout the shift
D. Only during initial attack
✅ C. Before engaging and throughout the shift
Which of the following is a correct guideline for water use during structure protection?
A. Use all available water as quickly as possible
B. Always rely on water as your primary safety measure
C. Keep at least 100 gallons of water in reserve
D. Long hose lays are preferred for better reach
✅ C. Keep at least 100 gallons of water in reserve
Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire.
Question:
All actions on the fireline should be based on what?
A. Supervisor preference
B. Previous shift’s tactics
C. Current and expected behavior of the fire
D. Equipment availability only
✅ C. Current and expected behavior of the fire
Give clear instructions and be sure they are understood.
Question:
What is required after giving instructions?
A. Move on to the next task
B. Assume they were understood
C. Be sure they are understood
D. Repeat them later
✅ C. Be sure they are understood
Safety zones and escape routes not identified
Question:
What is the issue if safety zones and escape routes are not identified?
A. Slower suppression efforts
B. Increased radio traffic
C. No safe way to escape if conditions change
D. Limited equipment access
✅ C. No safe way to escape if conditions change
Building fireline downhill with fire below
Question:
Why is building fireline downhill with fire below a watch out?
A. Fire moves slower downhill
B. Fire can rapidly run uphill toward you
C. It improves visibility
D. It reduces heat exposure
✅ B. Fire can rapidly run uphill toward you
What is the most important characteristic of a safety zone?
A. It is close to the fireline
B. It allows access for vehicles
C. It provides adequate separation from heat without needing a fire shelter
D. It is easy to see on a map
✅ C. It provides adequate separation from heat without needing a fire shelter
What should firefighters do when the fire front is approaching a structure?
A. Stay at the structure and continue suppression
B. Move to the closest safety zone and allow the fire front to pass
C. Leave the area entirely
D. Focus only on protecting nearby vegetation
✅ B. Move to the closest safety zone and allow the fire front to pass
Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known.
Question:
What must be done after identifying escape routes and safety zones?
A. Keep them to yourself
B. Only tell supervisors
C. Make them known to all personnel
D. Mark them on a map only
✅ C. Make them known to all personnel
Maintain control of your forces at all times.
Question:
What does maintaining control of your forces mean?
A. Let crews work independently without check-ins
B. Keep accountability and supervision of personnel at all times
C. Focus only on operations
D. Only check in at the end of shift
✅ B. Keep accountability and supervision of personnel at all times
Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior
Question:
Why is being unfamiliar with weather and local factors a watch out?
A. It delays briefing times
B. It can lead to unexpected fire behavior
C. It reduces crew size
D. It affects logistics only
✅ B. It can lead to unexpected fire behavior
. Wind increases and/or changes direction
Question:
What can happen when wind increases or changes direction?
A. Fire behavior becomes more predictable
B. Fire activity decreases
C. Fire behavior can rapidly change and intensify
D. Smoke clears quickly
✅ C. Fire behavior can rapidly change and intensify
What is the purpose of establishing communications in LCES?
A. To reduce radio traffic
B. To ensure everyone can receive and share critical information about hazards and changes
C. To track crew location only
D. To communicate with dispatch only
✅ B. To ensure everyone can receive and share critical information about hazards and changes
After the fire front passes, what is the most common cause of structures igniting?
A. Direct flame contact from crown fire
B. Equipment failure
C. Residual spot fires or creeping ground fire
D. Excessive water use
✅ C. Residual spot fires or creeping ground fire
Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
Question:
When should lookouts be posted?
A. Only during night shift
B. When there is possible danger
C. After the fire is contained
D. Only on large incidents
✅ B. When there is possible danger
Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.
Question:
What must always come first before aggressive fire suppression?
A. Speed
B. Production
C. Safety
D. Equipment setup
✅ C. Safety
Instructions and assignments not clear
Question:
What is the danger when instructions and assignments are not clear?
A. Increased production
B. Confusion and unsafe actions on the fireline
C. Reduced communication
D. Faster line construction
✅ B. Confusion and unsafe actions on the fireline
Getting frequent spot fires across line
Question:
What does frequent spotting across the line indicate?
A. Fire is under control
B. Decreasing fire intensity
C. Increased fire spread potential and loss of control
D. Better holding conditions
✅ C. Increased fire spread potential and loss of control