Firefighter Trivia Quiz: Slaying the Dragon

My son-in-law is a professional firefighter. This quiz is dedicated to him and his fellow warriors.

It is a privilege to be related to a professional firefighter (my son-in-law). He is a tremendous example of a strong man, both in terms of protecting and serving the community, as well as caring for my daughter and my grandkids. This article and fun trivia quiz is dedicated to him and his fellow warriors.

Below you will find ten multiple-choice questions for your consideration. After taking the quiz, the answers will be automatically calculated and the results given. Below the quiz, you will find the expanded answers.

Firefighter Trivia Quiz

For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.

1. What is the average lifespan of a firefighter?
   • 84
   • 72
   • 78
2. On average how many firefighters die each year fighting fires?
   • 81
   • 250
   • 125
3. How many false alarms are there each year?
   • 1,350,000
   • 1,134,400
   • 550,000
4. How many firefighters are there?
   • 3247550年
   • 1,134,400
   • 985,760
5. What is the average firefighters age?
   • 21 - 26
   • 40 - 46
   • 30 - 39
6. What is the average salary of a career firefighter?
   • $125,550
   • $49,330
   • $37,980
7. How tall can tallest ladder truck reach in USA?
   • 250 feet
   • 100 feet
   • 150 feet
8. How many fire departments in USA?
   • 29,980
   • 52,599
   • 123,055

Answer Key

1. 84
2. 81
3. 1,134,400
4. 1,134,400
5. 30 - 39
6. $49,330
7. 100 feet
8. 29,980

Interpreting Your Score

If you got between 0 and 2 correct answers: Don't play with matches!

If you got between 3 and 4 correct answers: Hose Boy

If you got between 5 and 6 correct answers: Spectator

If you got 7 correct answers: Go wash the firetruck

If you got 8 correct answers: Dragon Slayer

Quiz Answer Key

1. What is the average lifespan of a firefighter?

Answer: 84. Contrary to popular belief, the lifespan of a firefighter has actually improved over the years, even though they are exposed to many carcinogens, dangerous fumes, extreme heat, and many other on-the-job dangers. So how can a firefighter's life expectancy have improved to the point where it actually matches a cashier's? For one, firefighters exercise better than most people. In addition, safety equipment and training have greatly improved over the years.

2. What percentage of firefighters are women?

Answer:3.8 percent.The current number of active women firefighters is 295,000. Back in 1986, the number was 170,000. In about 30 years, the number has almost doubled.

3. On average, how many firefighters die each year fighting fires?

Answer:81.The ten-year average is 81. Here are the year-to-year to year totals back to 2006:

• 2015: 73
• 2014: 61
• 2013: 97
• 2012: 64
• 2011: 61
• 2010: 73
• 2009: 82
• 2008: 105
• 2007: 106
• 2006: 90

From 1977 to 1986 the average was 124. The average has dropped considerably, which is attributed to increased safety procedures and better equipment and training.

4. How many false alarms are there each year?

Answer:One of the biggest impacts on cost and danger to firefighters is responding to false alarms. There were over 2,753 false alarms last year and that number is steadily increasing.

5. How many firefighters are there?

Answer:Currently there are approximately 1,134,400 firefighters working in the continental United States. Of that number, 346,150 are full-time paid firefighters and about 788,250 are volunteers. There are about twice as many volunteers as full-time career firefighters.

6. What is the average firefighter's age?

Answer:The best-represented age range is from 30 to 39, making up 28 percent of the firefighter workforce. The next group is the 40 to 49 age range, coming in at 26 percent.

7. What is the average salary of a career firefighter?

Answer:As of 2015, the average salary of a career firefighter in the United States was $49,330 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

8. How high can the tallest ladder truck in the U.S. reach?

Answer:100 feet.Although there may be some slightly taller, 100 feet seems to be the tallest in regular circulation.

9. How many fire departments are there in the U.S.?

Answer:There are 29,980 fire departments in the United States.

10. What was the average total property loss value in 2015?

Answer:$14.2 billion.There were 1,345,500 building structure fires in 2015. For those fires, an estimated property loss of $14.3 billion was reported. The total number of civilian deaths in structure fires for 2015 was 3,280. The number of civilian injuries reported was 15,700.

The Firefighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God
whenever flames may rage,
give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.
Help me to embrace a little child
before it’s too late,
or some older person
from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
and hear the weakest shout,
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me,
to guard my neighbor
and protect his property.
and if according to my fate
I am to lose my life,
Please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

—Author Unknown

Comments

Joel Diffendarfer (author)from Jonesville on November 19, 2016:

Hi Jodah, thanks for reading...and thanks for your service. I will check with HP to find out what the issue may be-Joel

John Hansenfrom Queensland Australia on November 19, 2016:

Interesting hub, Joel. I am an ex-volunteer firefighter and secretary of the local brigade. Unfortunately the quiz questions don't show up for me, only the expanded answers. Oh well, the stats are worth reading.