Here is a sample question I randomly picked from a study guide based on one of the books from the exam in question. (from my recollection this is not an actual test question but very similar) All of the questions were taken from the reading material.

A Stucture may be too dangerous to enter if it is made of brick and wood joist or wood frame construction and has been involved in heavy fire and exposed to these fire and heat conditions for a period of how long (a safety rule in possible collapse situations)?

A. 5 minutes

B. 20 minutes or more

C. 10 minutes

D. None of the above. Construction or this type is less likely to collapse than other construction classifications, regardless of exposure time to elevated heat conditions and direct flame contact

The answer is B. This is critical information for a Fire Officer. Will he make an interior attack or resort to defensive operations? The officer must posess this knowledge to make the decision whether or not to put his crew in a life threatening situation.

How is this question bias toward one race or another?

Ans: There is no bias.

But expect Degsme to show up and say there is with some obscene, convoluted, extreme, liberal study that says it is.

The black man suing the city did poorly on a test because of his own failings and he has no sense of shame (probably because Degsme's kind told him he shouldn't). The idea that he has no shame shows what American values are becoming.

SHAME ON FORD.

Is that really the answer or just some bullshit you need to memorize or have someone tell you is on the test? Is that the first thing somone on the scene asks - Is this structure "made of brick and wood joist or wood frame construction and has (it) been involved in heavy fire and exposed to these fire and heat conditions for a period of how long?" Is 18 minutes OK but 22 minutes to long?

I'm an excellent test taker but every class I've even been in had a percentage of absolute idiots whose only concern was what are the questions and answers on the test instead of what do I really need to learn here.

The dyslectic who score so high on the firefighters exam might actually a cause for concern. He studied and studied until he aced the test and then during a fire someone might have to hand him a written note and he's like WTF does this say. There i a role for tests but it is an imperfect world and the ability to memorize and resources to be coached on tests can be a form of affirmative action for people without common sense or natural ability too.

That is 100% the correct answer, The type of building construction, and fire progression are two of the FIRST things a company officer assesses upon arrival at a scene of a building fire. Proper size up of an emergency situation is critical in order to develop strategy and tactics at an emergency. If the stucture is made of brick and wood joist or wood frame construction you have about 20 minutes of heavy fire and heat conditions before the building starts to deteriorate to the point of LOCALIZED collapse risk. In contrast a building constructed of lightweight steel or wood truss construction has about 10 minutes of exposure to high heat and heavy fire before a TOTAL collapse of the roof.

Example: Lt Smith pulls up to a fast food restaurant with heavy fire showing (all occupants are out). Lt Smith got a 90 on his oral but failed his job knowledge written. He does not recognize the building is light weight steel truss construction or doesn't understand the collapse risk. Lt. Smith and Firefighter Jones stretch a small diameter hoseline to the front door and enter the structure. They start extinguishing the flames and start pushing there way in deeper into the structure. All of a sudden 1 of the steel trusses fail and causes the entire roof to collapse on top of them killing Firefighter Jones and severely injuring Lt Smith. Lt Smith is rescued but left paralyzed from the waist down. firefighter Jones leaves behind 2 children and a pregnant wife.

Example 2: Lt Doe responds to the same scenario above. He got an 85 on his written test and an 80 on his oral ( a well rounded candidate) He recognizes the building construction as an inherent hazard and recognizes the rapidly advancing fire. All occupants are out of the building. He chooses to make a defensive attack on the fire with a large hoseline from the exterior of the building. The fire is eventually extinguished and although the building is a total loss Lt Doe and his crew will return home to there families.

Those are real scenarios any NHFD officer can be faced with at any time regardless of race.

So to answer your question it is absolutely paramount the company officer obtain the building construction and fire progression. And those are just 2 of the items a company officer needs to assess during his size up. Actually there are many more critical size up points an officer must conduct before making life and death decisions on the fieground.

The acronym COAL WAS WEALTH: Construction (type), Occupancy(residential/commerci­al), Area , Life safety (occupants in immediate danger), Weather, Auxiliary appliances (e.g. fire protection systems), Size, Water, Exposures, Apparatus, Location, Time, and Height.

All this must be done BEFORE commiting resources or "making a move", all this should take place in under 2 minutes.

And "the dyslexic" you speak of is lead plaintiff Ricci. Who has been involved in the fire EMS service since he was 15 years old, he has a college education in fire science, he is the assigned driver of the busiest truck co. in the city,he has instructed NHFD recruit classes, he trained the departments special operations division in rope rescue, he has produced 2 fire service DVD's, authored chapters in a fire service text book, lectures and conducts training classes around the country, and works part time as an instructor for a regional fire academy. This man lives, breathes, and eats the fire service.

The information we were required to memorize was NOT useless "fill in" test material. Everything we were required to study was 100% applicable to our day to day duties as a company officer in the NHFD.