DFES WA Career Firefighter Aptitude cheat sheet

Bushfire danger ratings run Low-Moderate, High, Extreme, Catastrophic (Black Saturday level); Catastrophic means leave before fire arrives.

Total Fire Bans prohibit all open-air fires and any activity likely to start a fire; penalties apply.

Fire weather depends on fuel load, fuel moisture, temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity; low humidity and high wind drive rapid spread.

Embers (spotting) can ignite homes kilometres ahead of the fire front; most home losses occur from ember attack, not flame contact.

A defendable space of cleared, low-fuel ground around a home reduces radiant heat exposure and gives firefighters room to work.

Fire danger season dates vary by region; permits are required for burning during the season and on days outside it.

Leaving early is the safest option on Extreme or Catastrophic days; roads may close and visibility can drop to near zero.

Bushfire smoke contains fine particulates; stay indoors with windows shut and air conditioning on recirculate when smoke is heavy.

Smoke alarms should be fitted on every level and outside sleeping areas; test monthly and replace batteries yearly.

Cooking oil fires are extinguished by covering the pan and turning off heat; never add water to burning oil.

A fire blanket or dry powder extinguisher suits small pan fires; water is for ordinary combustibles, not electrical or oil fires.

Close doors behind you when escaping a house fire; a closed door slows fire and smoke spread significantly.

Escape plans need two ways out of each room, a meeting point outside, and practice at least twice a year.

Heaters, candles, and smoking materials are leading causes of fatal home fires; keep them clear of curtains and bedding.

Electrical fires often start from overloaded power boards, damaged cords, or faulty appliances; switch off at the mains where safe.

Stop, drop, and roll smothers clothing that has caught fire; running feeds the flames with air.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water (above about 26.5 C) and lose strength once they move over land.

Cyclone categories 1 to 5 are based on maximum sustained wind gusts; category 5 exceeds 280 km/h.

The eye is a calm centre surrounded by the eyewall, the most destructive part; winds resume from the opposite direction after the eye passes.

Storm surge, not wind, causes most cyclone deaths; low-lying coastal areas can flood hours before landfall.

Cyclone season in Australia runs roughly November to April; watch for a Watch (expected) then a Warning (occurring or imminent).

Secure or store loose outdoor items, close shutters, and shelter in the strongest room away from windows during the storm.

Cyclones weaken to tropical lows inland but can still bring intense rainfall and flooding far from the coast.

Do not go outside during the calm of the eye; the second half of the storm arrives within minutes to hours.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued for damaging winds (90 km/h or more), large hail (2 cm or more), or heavy rain.

A squall line is a fast-moving line of storms that can produce damaging straight-line winds along its leading edge.

Lightning can strike up to about 10 km from the parent storm; if you can hear thunder, you are within strike range.

Shelter indoors away from windows and plumbing; avoid using corded phones and running water during a thunderstorm.

Hailstones form in strong updrafts; large hail damages roofs, vehicles, and crops and can block gutters causing water damage.

Flash flooding is the leading cause of death in thunderstorms; never drive through water of unknown depth.

Downed powerlines should be treated as live; stay at least 8-10 metres away and report them.

Secure loose outdoor items before storms; trampolines and furniture become projectiles in strong winds.

Flood warnings come as Minor, Moderate, or Major, based on expected river heights against defined thresholds.

Flash flooding occurs within six hours of rainfall; riverine flooding develops over hours to days downstream.

A flood watch means conditions are favourable for flooding; a warning means flooding is occurring or expected.

Never drive, ride, or walk through floodwater; 15 cm of moving water can knock a person over and 30 cm can move a small car.

Floodwater is contaminated with sewage and debris; wash hands and avoid contact where possible.

Move to higher ground early; if trapped, go to the highest floor but never into a closed roof space without an exit.

Turn off electricity and gas only if it is safe to reach the switchboard while dry.

Flood insurance is separate from standard home cover; most policies exclude flood unless specifically included.

Tsunamis are most often triggered by undersea earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions.

Natural warning signs include strong or long earthquake shaking near the coast, a sudden sea retreat, or a loud roar from the ocean.

If you feel strong shaking at the coast, move inland and to high ground immediately without waiting for an official warning.

Tsunami waves can arrive in minutes near the source and hours later across an ocean; the first wave is often not the largest.

Tsunami danger can persist for many hours; return only when authorities declare it is safe.

Go at least 1 km inland or 10 metres above sea level where possible; vertical evacuation to a tall sturdy building is an option.

Tsunami warnings use Watch (threat possible) and Warning (threat expected); Marine Warnings apply to boats and beaches.

Do not go to the beach to watch a tsunami; receding water exposes the seafloor and the wave follows quickly.

During shaking: Drop, Cover, and Hold On under a sturdy table until shaking stops.

If outdoors, move away from buildings, trees, and powerlines and drop to the ground in an open area.

If driving, pull over away from bridges, overpasses, and powerlines and stay in the vehicle.

Most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and debris, not ground movement itself.

Aftershocks can follow the main quake for days or weeks and may cause further damage.

Magnitude measures energy released (one scale); intensity measures effects at a location (Modified Mercalli scale).

Earthquake shaking can trigger landslides, liquefaction, and tsunamis near the coast.

Check for gas leaks and structural damage after shaking; evacuate if you smell gas or the building is unsafe.

Hazmat incidents involve chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive materials that harm people or the environment.

The Dangerous Goods diamond uses colour codes: red for flammability, blue for health hazard, yellow for reactivity, white for special hazards.

Hazmat scene control uses hot (contaminated), warm (decontamination), and cold (safe) zones.

Approach hazmat incidents from upwind and uphill; never enter a contaminated area without protective equipment.

The Emergency Response Guidebook uses four-digit UN numbers to identify substances and initial isolation distances.

Common household hazmats include pool chlorine, pesticides, solvents, and LPG cylinders; store them separately and ventilated.

Decontamination removes contaminants from people and equipment before they leave the warm zone.

If a chemical is spilled indoors, evacuate, ventilate if safe, and call emergency services; do not mix cleaning products.

Emergency Alert sends messages to mobile phones and landlines based on billing address or location.

The Australian Warning System uses Advice (yellow), Watch and Act (orange), and Emergency Warning (red).

Emergency Warning means you are in danger and must act immediately; the highest level is not issued for every incident.

Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) is the distinctive siren tone broadcast before emergency warnings.

People at higher risk include older adults, young children, people with disability, those with limited English, and people socially isolated.

Emergency plans should account for mobility aids, medications, pets, and a support person for those who need assistance.

Register with a personal alert or emergency contact service if you live alone or have a medical condition.

Warnings may fail; do not rely on a single channel; use radio, apps, and official websites together.

DFES is Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services; it supports career and volunteer firefighters and SES.

Career firefighter recruitment typically includes aptitude testing, physical aptitude, medical checks, and interviews.

Volunteer bushfire brigades and SES units train locally and are activated through their local government or DFES.

Employers have obligations to release volunteer emergency service workers for emergency response under state legislation.

Aptitude tests for firefighting often cover mechanical reasoning, spatial awareness, numeracy, and situational judgement.

Volunteers must complete training and maintain currency in skills such as first aid, driving, and incident response.

Employment screening may include police checks, working with children checks, and fitness assessments.

Teamwork, communication, and calm decision-making under pressure are core selection criteria for emergency services roles.