Test Prep

Free Firefighter Practice Test (2026)

By Josiah RaifordUpdated Oct 6, 2026
Five free firefighter practice tests, 20 questions each: math, mechanical reasoning, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and situational judgment. Pick a section, answer every question, and check your answers to get an instant score and an explanation for each one. No sign up needed, and nothing you enter leaves your browser. Tools, apparatus, and procedures vary from department to department, so the fire service details here are common examples, not any one department's rules.

Math Practice Test

Arithmetic, fractions, percentages, and word problems. Many candidates find the math on the real test a little easier than this set. Use scratch paper; no calculator.

20 questionsTime: 0:00
1. An engine carries 750 gallons of water. If a hose line flows 150 gallons per minute, how many minutes until the tank is empty?
Answer: D. 5. 750 gallons divided by 150 gallons per minute is 5 minutes.
2. A crew stretches three 50 foot sections of hose and one 100 foot section. How long is the hose line?
Answer: A. 250 feet. 3 × 50 = 150 feet, plus 100 feet is 250 feet.
3. A ladder reaches a window 12 feet off the ground. The base of the ladder is 9 feet from the wall. How long is the ladder?
Answer: C. 15 feet. The ladder is the long side of a right triangle: 9² + 12² = 81 + 144 = 225, and the square root of 225 is 15.
4. A station ran 160 calls last month. 40 of them were fires. What percent of the calls were fires?
Answer: B. 25%. 40 ÷ 160 = 0.25, which is 25%.
5. A firefighter works 24 hours on and 48 hours off. How many hours does the firefighter work in a 9 day period that starts on a shift day?
Answer: C. 72. The schedule repeats every 3 days, so 9 days holds 3 shifts. 3 × 24 = 72 hours.
6. A 1,000 gallon tank is 3/4 full. The crew then uses 400 gallons. How many gallons are left?
Answer: C. 350. 3/4 of 1,000 is 750 gallons. 750 − 400 = 350 gallons.
7. Friction loss in a hose is 12 psi for every 100 feet. What is the friction loss in 350 feet of that hose?
Answer: A. 42 psi. 350 feet is 3.5 hundreds of feet. 3.5 × 12 = 42 psi.
8. Five response times were 4, 6, 5, 7, and 8 minutes. What was the average response time?
Answer: B. 6 minutes. 4 + 6 + 5 + 7 + 8 = 30. 30 ÷ 5 = 6 minutes.
9. A training session lasts 2.5 hours. How many minutes is that?
Answer: A. 150. 2 hours is 120 minutes and half an hour is 30 minutes. 120 + 30 = 150.
10. A foam system mixes concentrate with water at 3%. How many gallons of concentrate are in 200 gallons of finished foam solution?
Answer: A. 6. 3% of 200 is 0.03 × 200 = 6 gallons.
11. One section of hose weighs 42 pounds. How much do 5 sections weigh?
Answer: C. 210 pounds. 42 × 5 = 210 pounds.
12. A firefighter earns $62,400 a year. How much is that per week, over 52 weeks?
Answer: A. $1,200. $62,400 ÷ 52 = $1,200.
13. A room measures 15 feet by 20 feet. What is the floor area?
Answer: B. 300 square feet. Area is length times width: 15 × 20 = 300 square feet.
14. A room is 10 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 8 feet high. What is its volume?
Answer: B. 960 cubic feet. Volume is length × width × height: 10 × 12 × 8 = 960 cubic feet.
15. One cubic foot holds about 7.5 gallons of water. About how many gallons fill a basement area 4 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet deep?
Answer: B. 300. 4 × 5 × 2 = 40 cubic feet. 40 × 7.5 = 300 gallons.
16. An engine drives 3 miles at an average of 36 miles per hour. How many minutes does the trip take?
Answer: B. 5. Time is distance ÷ speed: 3 ÷ 36 = 1/12 of an hour, and 1/12 of 60 minutes is 5 minutes.
17. What is 0.25 + 1.5 + 2.75?
Answer: B. 4.5. 0.25 + 1.5 = 1.75, and 1.75 + 2.75 = 4.5.
18. A department's yearly calls rose from 800 to 1,000. By what percent did calls increase?
Answer: A. 25%. The increase is 200 calls. 200 ÷ 800 (the starting number) = 0.25, or 25%.
19. Temperature in Fahrenheit equals Celsius × 9/5 + 32. What is 20 degrees Celsius in Fahrenheit?
Answer: A. 68 degrees. 20 × 9/5 = 36, and 36 + 32 = 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
20. 4 firefighters can clean 12 air packs in one hour. Working at the same rate, how many can 6 firefighters clean in one hour?
Answer: A. 18. Each firefighter cleans 12 ÷ 4 = 3 air packs an hour. 6 × 3 = 18.

Mechanical Reasoning Practice Test

Gears, levers, pulleys, hydraulics, and everyday physics. Many written exams include a mechanical section.

20 questionsTime: 0:00
1. Gear A turns clockwise and meshes directly with Gear B. Which way does Gear B turn?
Answer: C. Counterclockwise. Two gears that mesh directly always turn in opposite directions.
2. Three gears sit in a row, each meshing with the next. The first gear turns clockwise. Which way does the third gear turn?
Answer: B. Clockwise. Each mesh reverses direction. The second gear turns counterclockwise, so the third turns clockwise again.
3. A 20 tooth gear drives a 40 tooth gear. If the small gear turns 10 times, how many times does the large gear turn?
Answer: D. 5. The large gear has twice as many teeth, so it turns half as many times: 10 ÷ 2 = 5.
4. A small gear drives a much larger gear. Compared with the small gear, the large gear turns:
Answer: D. Slower, with more turning force. A larger driven gear trades speed for force: it turns more slowly but with more torque.
5. A 100 pound load sits 2 feet from the fulcrum of a lever. How much force is needed 4 feet from the fulcrum, on the other side, to balance it?
Answer: B. 50 pounds. Force × distance must balance: 100 × 2 = 200, and 200 ÷ 4 = 50 pounds.
6. Using a single fixed pulley, about how much force does it take to lift an 80 pound load? (Ignore friction.)
Answer: A. 80 pounds. A single fixed pulley only changes the direction of the pull. It gives no mechanical advantage.
7. Using a single movable pulley, about how much force does it take to lift an 80 pound load? (Ignore friction.)
Answer: B. 40 pounds. A movable pulley is supported by two rope segments, so each carries half the load: 80 ÷ 2 = 40 pounds.
8. A pulley system has 4 rope segments supporting a 200 pound load. About how much pulling force is needed? (Ignore friction.)
Answer: C. 50 pounds. Divide the load by the number of supporting segments: 200 ÷ 4 = 50 pounds.
9. Two ramps reach the same height. Ramp A is twice as long as Ramp B. Pushing a cart up Ramp A takes:
Answer: C. Less force over a longer distance. A longer, gentler incline reduces the force needed, but you push it farther.
10. Which axe head will split wood with the least force?
Answer: A. A thin, sharp wedge. A thinner wedge spreads the force over a smaller edge and acts like a longer incline, so it splits with less force.
11. Screw A has more threads per inch than Screw B. Compared with Screw B, Screw A:
Answer: A. Takes more turns but less force to drive in. Closer threads act like a longer, gentler incline wrapped around the screw: easier to turn, but more turns.
12. Turning a large wheel attached to a small axle, such as a steering wheel or a large valve wheel, lets you:
Answer: D. Apply more turning force to the axle. A wheel and axle multiplies force: a small force on the large wheel becomes a larger turning force at the axle.
13. Two water tanks are filled to the same depth. Tank A is twice as wide as Tank B. How does the water pressure at the bottom compare?
Answer: C. It is the same in both tanks. Water pressure at the bottom depends on the depth of the water, not the width of the tank.
14. When the same flow of water passes from a wide hose into a narrower nozzle, the water's speed:
Answer: C. Increases. The same volume must pass through a smaller opening each second, so the water moves faster.
15. Two pulleys are connected by a belt that is crossed in a figure eight. If the first pulley turns clockwise, the second turns:
Answer: B. Counterclockwise. An uncrossed belt keeps both pulleys turning the same way. Crossing the belt reverses the direction.
16. In a wheelbarrow, where is the load compared with the fulcrum (the wheel) and the effort (your hands)?
Answer: C. Between the fulcrum and the effort. A wheelbarrow is a second class lever: the load sits between the wheel and your hands.
17. A metal lid is stuck on a glass jar. Running hot water over the lid helps because:
Answer: C. The metal expands more than the glass. Most metals expand more than glass when heated, so the lid loosens.
18. Where should heavy equipment be stored on a vehicle to keep it most stable?
Answer: D. Low and near the center. Keeping weight low and centered lowers the center of gravity and makes the vehicle less likely to tip.
19. In a hydraulic system, a small piston has an area of 1 square inch and a large piston has an area of 10 square inches. Pushing the small piston with 20 pounds produces how much force on the large piston?
Answer: A. 200 pounds. Pressure is the same throughout the fluid: 20 pounds per square inch × 10 square inches = 200 pounds.
20. Which change will most reduce the force needed to drag a heavy object across a floor?
Answer: C. Putting it on rollers. Rollers replace sliding friction with rolling friction, which is much lower.

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Read each short passage, then answer the questions using only what the passage says.

20 questionsTime: 0:00
Passage: Air pack check

At the start of every shift, each firefighter inspects the self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) assigned to their riding position. The firefighter first checks that the cylinder gauge reads at least 90 percent of full. A cylinder below that level is exchanged for a full one before any other check. Next, the firefighter inspects the harness and straps for cuts or fraying and the facepiece for cracks. The firefighter then opens the cylinder valve fully and confirms that the low air alarm sounds briefly as the system pressurizes. Any pack that fails a check is tagged out of service and reported to the company officer, who arranges a replacement before the crew responds to another call.

1. According to the passage, what should a firefighter do first if the cylinder gauge reads 80 percent?
Answer: B. Exchange the cylinder for a full one. The passage says a cylinder below 90 percent is exchanged for a full one before any other check.
2. What confirms that the system has pressurized correctly?
Answer: B. The low air alarm sounds briefly. The firefighter opens the valve and confirms the low air alarm sounds briefly as the system pressurizes.
3. Who arranges a replacement for a pack that fails inspection?
Answer: C. The company officer. Failed packs are reported to the company officer, who arranges a replacement.
4. Which item is NOT listed as part of the inspection?
Answer: A. Checking the cylinder's weight. The passage covers the gauge, harness, straps, facepiece, and alarm. It never mentions weighing the cylinder.
5. When must a failed pack be replaced?
Answer: A. Before the crew responds to another call. The last sentence says the officer arranges a replacement before the crew responds to another call.
Passage: Shift trade policy

Members may trade shifts with another member of equal rank and qualification. Both members must submit a signed trade request to their battalion chief at least 72 hours before the shift. The member who agrees to work the shift becomes fully responsible for it; if that member fails to report, the absence is recorded against them, not against the member who requested the trade. A member may not hold more than four unpaid trades at one time. Trades during the first year of employment require the approval of the deputy chief, and trades may not be used to work more than 48 consecutive hours.

6. How far in advance must a trade request be submitted?
Answer: A. At least 72 hours. The policy requires the request at least 72 hours before the shift.
7. If the member who agreed to work a traded shift does not show up, the absence is recorded against:
Answer: D. The member who agreed to work the shift. The passage says the member who agrees to work becomes fully responsible, and the absence is recorded against them.
8. A member in their first year wants to trade a shift. Whose approval is required?
Answer: C. The deputy chief. Trades during the first year of employment require the deputy chief's approval.
9. A member already holds four unpaid trades. According to the policy, the member:
Answer: B. May not take on another trade until one is cleared. A member may not hold more than four unpaid trades at one time.
10. Which trade would the policy NOT allow?
Answer: B. One that results in working 72 hours in a row. Trades may not be used to work more than 48 consecutive hours.
Passage: Smoke alarms at home

Many fatal home fires happen at night, when people are asleep. Smoke, not flames, causes many of these deaths, because toxic gases can overcome a sleeping person before they wake. Working smoke alarms give people the extra minutes they need to escape. Fire safety experts recommend an alarm inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Alarms should be tested once a month by pressing the test button. Batteries in older alarms should be replaced at least once a year, and the alarms themselves should be replaced when they are 10 years old, even if they still seem to work.

11. According to the passage, why are night fires especially deadly?
Answer: B. Toxic gases can overcome people before they wake. The passage says smoke and toxic gases can overcome a sleeping person before they wake.
12. How often should smoke alarms be tested?
Answer: B. Once a month. The passage says alarms should be tested once a month.
13. A smoke alarm is 11 years old and still beeps when tested. What does the passage recommend?
Answer: D. Replace the alarm. Alarms should be replaced when they are 10 years old, even if they still seem to work.
14. Which location is NOT mentioned as a place for a smoke alarm?
Answer: A. Inside the garage. The passage lists bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and every level. It does not mention the garage.
15. What is the main idea of the passage?
Answer: A. Working smoke alarms give people time to escape night fires. Every detail supports the idea that working alarms buy the time needed to escape.
Passage: Arriving on scene

The first company officer to arrive at a structure fire gives a brief radio report so that incoming units understand the situation before they arrive. The report describes the building, such as its size, height, and use, and what the officer can see, such as smoke or fire showing and from where. The officer then announces what the company is doing, for example an offensive attack through the front door, and assumes command of the incident. If the officer later hands command to a higher ranking officer, the transfer is done face to face whenever possible, and the new commander announces the change over the radio so every unit knows who is in charge.

16. What is the main purpose of the first arriving officer's radio report?
Answer: B. To help incoming units understand the situation. The report is given so incoming units understand the situation before they arrive.
17. Which detail would belong in the report's description of the building?
Answer: B. It is a three story apartment building. The passage says the report describes the building's size, height, and use.
18. After describing what is happening, the officer announces:
Answer: C. What the company is doing and that they are assuming command. The officer announces the company's action, such as an offensive attack, and assumes command.
19. How should command be transferred to a higher ranking officer when possible?
Answer: C. Face to face. The passage says the transfer is done face to face whenever possible.
20. Why does the new commander announce the change over the radio?
Answer: A. So every unit knows who is in charge. The announcement makes sure every unit knows who is in charge.

Vocabulary Practice Test

Choose the meaning that best fits the word in bold, as it is used in the sentence.

20 questionsTime: 0:00
1. The crew opened the windows to ventilate the room. Ventilate most nearly means:
Answer: C. Let air move in and out. To ventilate is to let fresh air in and smoke or stale air out.
2. The fire spread to the adjacent building. Adjacent most nearly means:
Answer: B. Next to. Adjacent means lying next to or near something.
3. A single spark can ignite gasoline vapors. Ignite most nearly means:
Answer: A. Set on fire. To ignite is to catch fire or cause something to catch fire.
4. The officer warned that a roof collapse was imminent. Imminent most nearly means:
Answer: D. About to happen. Imminent describes something that is about to happen.
5. Wearing a seat belt in the apparatus is mandatory. Mandatory most nearly means:
Answer: B. Required. Mandatory means required by a rule.
6. The spill was treated as hazardous material. Hazardous most nearly means:
Answer: C. Dangerous. Hazardous means risky or dangerous.
7. Keep your radio report concise. Concise most nearly means:
Answer: B. Brief and clear. Concise means saying a lot in few words.
8. Firefighters worked for 20 minutes to extricate the driver. Extricate most nearly means:
Answer: D. Free from a trapped position. To extricate is to free someone from where they are trapped, such as a crashed vehicle.
9. Without maintenance, the hose will deteriorate. Deteriorate most nearly means:
Answer: B. Get worse over time. Deteriorate means to become worse in condition.
10. Smoke can contaminate turnout gear. Contaminate most nearly means:
Answer: A. Make dirty or unsafe. To contaminate is to make something impure or unsafe through contact.
11. All members must comply with the safety policy. Comply most nearly means:
Answer: B. Follow. To comply is to act according to a rule or request.
12. Police helped evacuate the apartment building. Evacuate most nearly means:
Answer: A. Move people out of. To evacuate is to remove people from a dangerous place.
13. The dispatcher's message was ambiguous. Ambiguous most nearly means:
Answer: A. Unclear, with more than one possible meaning. Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation.
14. Do not park in close proximity to the hydrant. Proximity most nearly means:
Answer: B. Nearness. Proximity means nearness in space.
15. The lieutenant gave instructions to the subordinates on the crew. Subordinates most nearly means:
Answer: A. People lower in rank. A subordinate is someone lower in rank or position.
16. Some chemicals are highly volatile. Volatile most nearly means:
Answer: A. Likely to change suddenly or explode. Volatile describes something unstable that can change or react quickly, including liquids that evaporate easily.
17. She was diligent about checking her equipment. Diligent most nearly means:
Answer: A. Careful and hardworking. Diligent means showing steady care and effort.
18. A parked car can obstruct the fire lane. Obstruct most nearly means:
Answer: C. Block. To obstruct is to block or get in the way.
19. It was prudent to wait for backup. Prudent most nearly means:
Answer: B. Wise and careful. Prudent means showing good judgment and caution.
20. The two crews made simultaneous entries. Simultaneous most nearly means:
Answer: B. Happening at the same time. Simultaneous means occurring at the same time.

Situational Judgment Practice Test

Choose the best response to each workplace or emergency situation. Real exams score these in different ways, and more than one answer can be reasonable; these answers reflect what many departments look for. Rule of thumb from working firefighters: if there is a safety concern, speak up right away and use the chain of command.

20 questionsTime: 0:00
1. At a working fire, your company officer tells you to search a smoky room alone while your partner changes an air bottle. What is the best response?
Answer: B. Tell your officer you would be entering without a partner. Working alone in a hazardous area is a safety issue, and safety concerns go to your officer immediately. Waiting silently or freelancing with another company breaks accountability.
2. Your captain wants a hose line stretched a certain way. You know a way that would be slightly faster, but the captain's way is safe. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Stretch it the captain's way and suggest your idea later. On scene, crews follow the officer's orders unless they are unsafe. A better idea is welcome later, through the right channel, not in the middle of the operation.
3. You notice that a crew member has been skipping the daily SCBA check on their own air pack for a week. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Remind them, and tell your officer if it continues. Unchecked air packs are a safety problem, so it cannot be ignored. Many departments expect you to address it with the person first, then use your immediate supervisor, not skip levels.
4. Your company officer repeatedly ignores a frayed strap on a ladder you have reported twice. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Document it and take it to the next level up the chain. When your immediate supervisor does not act on a safety issue, the next step is generally the next level of the chain of command, documented, not freelancing or going public.
5. A crew member smells strongly of alcohol at the start of a shift and seems unsteady. What is the best response?
Answer: B. Tell your company officer before the crew responds to any call. Impairment on duty is a safety issue for the crew and the public. It needs to reach the officer before the next call, not be managed quietly by crewmates.
6. You are on probation. You realize you forgot to refill an air cylinder during the morning check, and the engine has already run one call. What is the best response?
Answer: C. Tell your officer and refill it right away. Owning a mistake and fixing it right away is what departments look for, especially from probationary firefighters. Hiding it, even with good intentions, usually does more harm.
7. Two officers on the fireground give you instructions that conflict. What is the best response?
Answer: C. Tell the second officer about the conflicting order. Conflicting orders are a safety risk. Telling the officer about the conflict lets the chain of command resolve it quickly instead of you guessing.
8. During overhaul, you see a fellow firefighter put cash from a dresser into their pocket. What is the best response?
Answer: B. Report it to your company officer right away. Theft from a property you were trusted to enter is serious misconduct. It belongs with the officer promptly; handling it privately or going to the homeowner yourself is not your call.
9. A senior firefighter shows you a shortcut that skips a step in the written procedure for checking the apparatus. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Follow the written procedure and ask your officer about the shortcut. Written procedures exist for safety and consistency. Asking your own officer resolves the question without shortcuts or jumping the chain of command.
10. At a scene, you see a downed power line near where another company is about to set up. Their officer has not mentioned it. What is the best response?
Answer: D. Warn the crew and radio command right away. Anyone who sees an immediate hazard should report it right away. Never handle a downed line yourself; alerting the crew and command is the safe response.
11. A coworker makes an offensive joke about another firefighter's race when that firefighter is not in the room. What is the best response?
Answer: D. Tell the coworker it is not okay and report it per policy. Departments expect members to treat each other with respect and generally require that harassment be addressed under policy. Silence lets it continue.
12. On a medical call, a patient refuses treatment but seems confused and cannot say where they are. What is the best response?
Answer: C. Tell your officer and follow the refusal protocol. A confused patient may not be able to refuse care. These situations follow protocol with the officer or medical control involved, not a quick call on your own.
13. A coworker posts a photo from a crash scene on social media, and the injured driver can be identified. What is the best response?
Answer: B. Ask the coworker to take it down now and let your officer know. Patient privacy and the department's reputation are both at stake, and many departments have policies on scene photos. The officer needs to know even if the post comes down.
14. A citizen at a scene angrily complains that the engine took too long to arrive. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Stay calm, keep working, and leave it to your officer. People are upset during emergencies. Staying professional, keeping the focus on the job, and leaving complaints to the officer generally works best.
15. You think a new station policy on equipment checks is wasting time. What is the best response?
Answer: A. Follow it and raise it with your officer later. You follow policy while you work through the proper channel to change it. Skipping your officer, or following it only sometimes, undermines the chain of command.
16. You finish your assigned station duties early while the rest of the crew is still working. What is the best response?
Answer: C. Ask your officer or crew what else needs to be done. Studying or working ahead is not wrong, but crews value people who pitch in on today's work first. Asking keeps you part of the team.
17. After a house fire, the homeowner begs you to go back in for family photos, but the building is not safe yet. What is the best response?
Answer: D. Kindly explain no one can go in yet; tell your officer. Compassion and safety go together. You cannot promise or attempt entry into an unsafe building; the officer can help the family with what comes next.
18. Your officer gives an order that you believe violates a department safety policy. What is the best response?
Answer: D. Respectfully point out the policy to the officer before acting. Safety concerns are raised right away, respectfully, with the person giving the order. Following silently and reporting later leaves the crew at risk in the meantime.
19. You will be 15 minutes late for your shift because of a traffic accident on the highway. What is the best response?
Answer: C. Call the station or your officer as soon as you know. Telling your officer directly and early lets them plan staffing. Going through a crewmate or explaining afterward leaves the officer guessing.
20. A firefighter on another shift tells you, in confidence, that they have been having panic attacks after a bad call. What is the best response?
Answer: D. Listen, and encourage them to use peer support or the EAP. Many departments encourage peer support and EAP for exactly this. If you believe they are in danger, get help immediately; otherwise, supporting them toward resources is generally the expected response.

About the Firefighter Written Exam

Most career departments give a written exam early in the hiring process, and at many departments your score decides whether you move on and where you land on the hiring list. Some departments write their own test, and many use a test from a vendor such as the National Testing Network (FireTEAM), the FCTC written test used by many California departments, or a civil service exam. Formats differ, but reading, math, and mechanical reasoning show up on many of them.

These questions are original practice questions written by FirefighterNow in the style of those common sections. They are not taken from any real exam, and no practice test can show you your department's actual questions. Use your department's own study guide if it sends one.

How to Use These Practice Tests

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Firefighter Written Exam FAQ

What is on the firefighter written exam?

It depends on the department and the test vendor, but many firefighter written exams cover reading comprehension, basic math, mechanical reasoning, and vocabulary or written expression. Many also include situational judgment questions, which this page covers, and personality or work style questions, which have no right answer to practice.

How many questions are on the firefighter written test?

Commonly somewhere around 100 questions, often in two to three hours, though the format varies widely. Check the study guide or candidate packet your department sends after you apply.

What score do you need to pass the firefighter exam?

Many departments set a passing score around 70 percent, but passing is often not enough. Departments frequently rank candidates by score, so a higher score can move you up the hiring list.

Can you use a calculator on the firefighter written exam?

Often not. Many written exams do not allow calculators, which is why the math questions here are designed to be solved with scratch paper.

Is this the real firefighter test?

No. These are original practice questions written by FirefighterNow in the style of common written exam sections. No practice test can show you the exact questions on your department's exam.