You can view our positive reviews here. Our book is by  far the best way to prepare for your Fire Captain or Fire Lieutenant interview.

“Please outline the first meeting you will have with your crew as a newly promoted Fire Lieutenant.”

There are two main areas that must be covered in this answer. The first is to outline what your expectations are of your new crew, and the second is to explain what your crew should expect of you. You need out tell the panel you will sit down with your crew and explain your expectations on everything including fire inspections, training, emergency operations, dress code, and station maintenance.  Many new fire officers choose to actually type these expectations out and have their crew sign them.

The second part of your answer needs to address what your crew should expect of you. You want to explain how you will perform employee evaluations, how you will schedule training to keep your crew up to snuff, and how you plan to run day to day operations.

Thanks

Jason,

Thanks for the assistance working through those interview questions.  I interviewed today for Captain and wanted to follow up with you.  The Chief, 2 Bat.  chiefs, 2 deputy chiefs, and our training chief were all present for my interview.  I was nervous sitting outside waiting to be called in.  Once they called me I hid my nerves, walked in with a purpose, and got started.  The first 5 questions were directly from your guide.  I was smiling inside as I answered.  The 6th question was about my weaknesses.  They asked “What steps have you taken in the last year to shore up your weaknesses as a firefighter?”  They asked a few more questions but they were all very similar to the ones in your guide.  Just wanted to say thanks and hope you can add this question to your guide.  I really feel good and should hear the results any day.

This is a great fire captain / fire lieutenant interview question.  Admitting you have a weakness is not a bad thing.  The important thing is to do it correctly, and show how you work to improve it.  Now if you go in and tell the panel your weakness is getting along with other firefighters . . . well that would be bad.  The key is to provide a weakness that does not present you in a poor light, but also shows your dedication to being the best you can be.  One example might be:

“I have always felt my biggest weakness is experience at very large scale incidents.  These incidents are rare in our department and I try to learn as much as I can when they do occur.  I attend the post incident analysis and study any after action reports that are published.  In the last year I have attended several workshops that studied large scale events, I have also taken my NIMS 300 class, and plan on taking NIMS 400 the next time it is offered.  My goal is to prepare myself as much as possible for those rare large scale events.

This answer is good because almost every firefighter lacks experience on very large scale incidents.  They just don’t happen every day.  It also demonstrates your ability to accurately evaluate yourself and take the necessary steps to further your education.  For more fire officer interview questions be sure to check out our guide.

You are a new fire captain at a large station.  One of your female firefighters comes to you and says that her fellow firefighters are making her feel uncomfortable with their conversations and evening movie choices.  She says she told the previous Captain, but he shrugged it off.   How do you handle this.

This is an excellent question for an officer interview.  It makes the officer candidate address several issues.  He has to address the immediate issue of possible sexual harassment.  He then has to explain the department’s policy and the actions he will take to correct the situation.  Disciplinary action, additional training, and even possibly reassigning firefighters are all possible solutions based on department policy.

The firefighter written entrance exam is so hard because of the atmosphere.  Its highly competitive and can be nerve racking.  Its not easy to take a test knowing it could potentially influence the next 30 some years of your life.  In addition to your own personal issues with test nervousness or anxiety, you also have to take the test in a room surrounded by other candidates.  Now you get to see just how much interest there is in this position.

Entrance exam questions can be on a variety of topics, but here are the most commonly tested areas:

• Ability to read tables, text, charts, graphs, and even maps
• Map orientation and direction
• floor plan reading and comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Verbal reasoning and judgment
• Mechanical Aptitude and skill
• Memory Recall
• Basic math skills

The test is usually multiple choice.  We have created a comprehensive firefighter entrance exam study guide.  It covers everything from the application process, how to study, the written exam, the physical exam, the medical and psychological exams, and most importantly the oral interview.  You can find our book by using the link on the right.

You are called for a report of an odd odor in a single family home.  You arrive and notice a minor haze in the home accompanied by a smell of smoke.  As you investigate you notice smoke coming from a gable vent.  What actions will you take?

This is a very good fire officer interview question.  It will test the candidates knowledge of response procedures (calling for a full alarm), attic fire strategy and tactics, and his ability to establish a safe and effective action plan.  Regardless of what department you are from, several key points of this question must be answered the same.

First the candidate should explain that he suspects a fire in the attic space, this would require a full fire response, rather than just his single unit that was sent for an odor investigation.  After the full alarm is dispatched, the candidate should provide them with at minimum an on scene report.  He then should verbalize evacuating the family from the home and his strategy/tactics for controlling the fire.  Depending on department policy, or lack thereof, any number of options may be acceptable, ranging from going up into the attic with a hand line, making an attack through the gable vent, or even use of a piercing nozzle.  A good answer might also include what the incoming units will be assigned.  IE Primary search, water supply, utility control, salvage/overhaul, secondary search, etc.

Fire Captain interview questions are challenging.  Be prepared for your interview with our fire officer interview guide.  It has over 80 interview questions that were used in real interviews.

We have released our firefighter entrance exam preparation guide.  You can find it under the menu titled “Our E-Books”.   The book starts at the beginning of the firefighter hiring process and walks you through each step.  It details what to expect at each step, and how to prepare.  We provide a comprehensive subject analysis so that you are fully prepared for the written exam.  The book also includes a 150 question firefighter entrance exam with answers.  You will be well prepared for the oral interview with our list of 40 interview questions, including those difficult situational interview questions.

Here is a quick look at what our guide covers.

The Application Process
Our guide will walk you through each step of the application process.  We explain how to make your resume stand out, and how to find firefighting jobs around the country.  You are walked through each step of the process.

Highly Effective Study Habits
The firefighter entrance test is extremely competitive.  How you study will make a difference.  Our guide shows you how to study each subject that will be on the test.  We walk you through creating a study plan, overcoming test anxiety, and even strategies for the day of the test.

The Firefighter Written Exam
First we walk you through what the exam is like, covering each of the topics that are most commonly tested in the United States.  We provide time management stategies, and test taking tips such as “when to guess and when not to guess”.   This chapter prepares you for the sample firefighter entrance exam that comes later in the book.

The Physical Ability Test
Firefighting is a physically demanding career, and departments will administer a test to be sure you’re capable of performing the duties of a firefighter.  Our firefighter exam preparation book covers the most commonly tested events for a firefighter physical ability test.  We cover tests that are common across the United States such as the CPAT.  This guide will walk you through each event, provide strategies on how to pass each one, and give you training suggestions.

The Medical and Psychological Exams
Our firefighter entrance exam ebook explains what the medical and psychological exams consist of.  The explain the best strategies for passing the tests.

The Oral Interview
The oral interview is one of the most difficult parts of the firefighter hiring process.  Most candidates are eliminated at this step of the process.  Our guide tells you what the interview is like and gives you tips for preparing.  We explain the most common mistakes firefighter candidates make in interviews and how to avoid them.  We also provide information how you should dress.  Our guide provides 40 firefighter entrance interview questions, including very important situational questions.

Sample Firefighter Entrance Exam
Our guide provides you with a 150 question sample firefighter entrance exam that covers all of the most commonly tested subjects.  The exam includes and answer key and will test your skills in:

• Reading tables, charts, maps, text and graphs
• Map orientation
• floor plans
• Reading comprehension
• Verbal reasoning and judgment
• Mechanical Aptitude
• Memory Recall
• Math