Certification Examination Practice

Illinois Fireground Accountability Officer Certification Examination Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• What is the primary responsibility of a Fireground Accountability

Officer (FAO)?

• Direct suppression efforts
• Maintain firefighter accountability **
• Operate the pump panel
• Manage incident media

Rationale: The FAO’s primary responsibility is to track the location and

status of all personnel on the fireground to ensure their safety.

• Which tool is essential for the FAO to track personnel at a structure

fire? 1 / 4

• Thermal imaging camera
• Portable radio **
• Halligan tool
• Hose line

Rationale: Portable radios allow the FAO to maintain communication with

crews and report status.

• According to NFPA 1561, how often should firefighter accountability

be updated?

• At the start of the shift
• Every 30 minutes
• Continuously during the incident **
• Only at the conclusion of the incident

Rationale: NFPA 1561 requires continuous accountability during operations

to maintain safety.

• What should the FAO do if a crew fails to report in after a specific

assignment?

• Ignore it
• Assume they are safe
• Notify the Incident Commander immediately **
• Wait for the crew to report

Rationale: Immediate notification allows the IC to take corrective action

and initiate a rescue if necessary. 2 / 4

5. The term “PAR” stands for:

• Personnel Accountability Report **
• Primary Action Response
• Pressure and Rescue
• Personnel Assignment Record

Rationale: PAR is a critical report used to confirm the safety and location of

all personnel.

• When should a PAR be requested?
• Only after a fire is out
• At strategic benchmarks during an incident **
• At the beginning of each shift
• Every 10 minutes

Rationale: Strategic points include major changes, transitions, or

emergencies to ensure accountability.

• Which is an FAO’s responsibility during rapid intervention team (RIT)

operations?

• Command the RIT
• Ensure all personnel are accounted for before RIT deployment **
• Conduct ventilation
• Manage fire suppression lines

Rationale: The FAO tracks crew status to determine the need for RIT

deployment. 3 / 4

• How does an FAO maintain accountability during multiple alarm

incidents?

• Assign all crews to a single sector
• Use tracking boards or electronic systems **
• Rely solely on IC memory
• Only track officer-level personnel

Rationale: Tracking systems allow the FAO to monitor multiple crews

across sectors effectively.

• The minimum information an FAO should record for each crew

includes:

• Name, unit, assignment **
• Age, years of service
• Favorite apparatus
• Date of hire

Rationale: Knowing name, unit, and assignment is essential for quick

accountability checks.

10. During a Mayday situation, the FAO should:

• Wait for instructions
• Immediately communicate the alert to the IC **
• Continue normal tracking
• Search for the missing firefighter alone
• / 4