SAFRS Firefighter Aptitude case studies
SAFRS Firefighter Aptitude · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The SAFRS Firefighter Aptitude is an entry-level selection instrument used by fire service agencies to gauge whether a candidate has the underlying cognitive and interpersonal abilities the job demands. It is aimed at people preparing for a first firefighter appointment rather than incumbent firefighters seeking promotion. Because firefighting blends reading technical material, doing quick arithmetic under pressure, understanding how equipment and structures behave, judging interpersonal situations, and noticing details accurately, the exam samples all of those areas rather than testing firefighting knowledge itself. You are not expected to arrive knowing nozzle pressures or building codes; you are expected to reason well with the information given. The SAFRS Firefighter Aptitude case studies are 5 cases and about 2,431 words.
1Two Calls, One Engine
You are the acting officer on Engine 4, staffed with three firefighters (the minimum for interior operations) and yourself. At 14:05 you are dispatched to an automatic alarm at a 6-story office building.
540 words, about 3 min2The Overloaded Extension Cord
During a pre-incident walkthrough of a warehouse, you see a 16-gauge extension cord running about 40 feet from a wall outlet to a space heater rated at 1,500 watts. The cord is warm to the touch near the plug, and it runs under a rubber mat and through a doorway where the door has been closing on it.
449 words, about 2 min3Hydrant Flow Check
You are laying out a supply line from a hydrant to a pumper. The hydrant is a standard 2½-inch outlet.
477 words, about 2 min4Reading the Pre-Plan
You are reviewing a pre-plan for a garden-style apartment complex. Access is from the north parking lot only; the south side is a retaining wall 8 feet high.
491 words, about 2 min5Witness Accounts at the Scene
You arrive at a small kitchen fire in a single-family home. The fire is out on arrival; a burned pot sits on the stove and there is light smoke.
474 words, about 2 min