Firefighter Mock Interview
Practice 35 Firefighter interview questions covering situational scenarios, physical fitness, and emergency response judgment.
Question 14 of 35
Besides fire, what risks are there when fighting a fully involved residential structure fire?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
What to Avoid
Example Answer 2
Community Answers
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The interviewer wants to see what type of fire education you have and how you identify firefighting risks. If you have taken any fire science classes, attended a fire academy, or volunteered as a firefighter, you will know the dangers of fighting a residential structure fire.
Besides fire, other risks include toxic smoke, electrical hazards, natural gas, falling through the roof during ventilation, running out of air or having your face mask ripped off, falling through the floor during fire suppression, having the building collapse, or becoming lost during search operations.
There are other risks related to fire behavior as well. There are backdrafts, flashovers, and rollovers (or flameovers). The interviewer wants to hear that you can identify fire behavior and predict what may happen when you observe this behavior. Understanding fire behavior is essential to keeping you and your crew safe when fighting structure fires.
Be sure to highlight four or five hazards associated with fighting a fully-involved structure fire, showing the interviewer that you have the education and experience they are looking for in a Firefighter. If you do not have experience as a Firefighter, you can read up on the hazards, which will show you have researched the profession and are eager to learn all you can about firefighting.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"There are many risks when fighting a fully involved structure fire. There is a risk when searching for victims. It is easy to get turned around or lost in dark, unfamiliar surroundings. There are risks of rollovers, flashovers, and backdrafts. That is why I think it is crucial to be educated and trained to recognize the signs of each. Another danger is structural collapse. The interior crews risk having the roof or structure fall in on them, while the ventilation crews risk falling off or through the roof."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Avoid giving one example of a risk associated with fighting a fully involved residential structure fire or saying that you do not know of other dangers besides the fire. If you only give one example or say you do not know of additional risks, it shows the interviewer you have not researched what the job entails.
There are many risks involved when fighting a fully involved structure fire. In addition to the dangers mentioned in the answer advice 'Why the Interviewer Asks This Question,' there are other dangers such as falling off a ladder, injuring yourself while rescuing a victim, additional exposures that can catch fire, explosions from gas lines or ammunition stored in the home, and downed power lines.
There are so many hazards that if you say you do not know of additional risks involved with fighting a fully involved structure fire, the interviewer will question your interest in this profession.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"There are numerous risks when fighting a fully involved residential structure fire. Besides the fire, toxic smoke can kill victims, fire behavior that poses a danger to Firefighters such as backdrafts, rollovers, and flashovers, disorientation when searching for victims, and structural collapse. There is also the risk of electrocution, explosions, burns, and running out of air or having the facemask being torn away from the Firefighter's face."
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Anonymous Answer
Besides fire, structural collapse can occur because of the fire deteriorating load-bearing walls, as well as deteriorating second-story floors causing furniture to fall. A secondary fire may also occur if an ember gets blown to a different area of the domestic area, if radiant heat causes nearby structures to ignite, or cause a wildland fire in rural areas. Miscellaneous chemicals inside the structure could become hazardous if presented with heat as well and cause chemical reactions harmful to firefighters.
Amanda's Feedback
This is a strong answer! You've clearly related several additional risks firefighters face should a residence be fully engulfed, which demonstrates that you have strong situational awareness and the kind of comprehensive knowledge that helps you evaluate the situation thoroughly and take appropriate action.
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