Prepare for your FDNY oral board interview

Fire service oral board scenarios calibrated to the FDNY's focus on incident command, crew safety, and rapid decision making in high-hazard urban environments.

Socratify AI

The Interview

What FDNY is looking for

Fireground Interview

Fireground Decision Scenarios

01Incident Command System Application

02Size-Up & Risk Assessment

03Crew Accountability

04Tactical Decision Making

EMS Interview

EMS & Medical Response

01Triage Prioritization

02Mass Casualty Incident Protocol

03Patient Assessment

04Inter-Agency Coordination

Behavioral Interview

Values & Teamwork

01Courage Under Pressure

02Crew Cohesion & Trust

03Physical & Mental Resilience

04Public Service Motivation

FDNY oral board tests fireground ICS knowledge specific to high-rise and subway operations//Dual fire/EMS mission means both tactical and medical judgment are evaluated//Crew safety and accountability are weighted heavily in all scenario assessments

Practice Library

FDNY exercises

Ready to ace your FDNY oral board interview?

Prepare for your FDNY oral board interview

Fire service oral board scenarios calibrated to the FDNY's focus on incident command, crew safety, and rapid decision making in high-hazard urban environments.

Socratify AI

The Interview

What FDNY is looking for

Fireground Interview

Fireground Decision Scenarios

01Incident Command System Application

02Size-Up & Risk Assessment

03Crew Accountability

04Tactical Decision Making

EMS Interview

EMS & Medical Response

01Triage Prioritization

02Mass Casualty Incident Protocol

03Patient Assessment

04Inter-Agency Coordination

Behavioral Interview

Values & Teamwork

01Courage Under Pressure

02Crew Cohesion & Trust

03Physical & Mental Resilience

04Public Service Motivation

How It Works

Master FDNY Oral Board Interviews

Fireground scenarios and EMS operations questions scored on incident command, crew safety, and tactical judgment. · Click to expand

Crisis Leadership

Practitioner

Team Communication

Practitioner

1Your Oral Board Goals

2Oral Board Case Prep

A 4-alarm fire in a commercial building has 3 missing occupants. Coordinate rescue...

CASE INTERVIEWHard

Fire & EMS · Incident CommandFDNY

3Frameworks

Framework

Immediate scene safety and patient prioritization

Hazard assessment and scene stabilization

Fire/fuel leak risk: 34% of major highway accidents, 2-4 min ignition window

Traffic hazard: secondary collision risk 18% within first 10 min without proper control

Triage decision: 8 patients total, 2 critical, 3 moderate, 3 minor — 2 available ambulances

Command structure and personnel allocation

On-scene capacity: 4 paramedics + 2 officers, 6 total for 8 patients + scene safety

ETA for advanced life support: 8-12 minutes from dispatch to scene (traffic dependent)

Radio coordination: dispatch alert issued, mutual aid response initiated, police traffic control en route (4-6 min)

Team dynamics and communication under stress

Crew coordination and role clarity

Crew experience: 2 paramedics (8+ yrs), 2 EMT-basic (2-3 yrs), 2 officers (5 yrs avg)

Communication failures: 23% of scene management errors trace to unclear command or role confusion

Stress management: adrenaline response can impair decision-making; critical decisions within 3-5 min

Stakeholder communication

Family members: 2 patients conscious and asking for loved ones; emotional escalation risk

Bystanders: 40+ vehicles backed up, some approaching scene; traffic control and safety messaging needed

Resource coordination and recovery priorities

Incoming resources and hand-off planning

Police units: 3-4 units en route (4-8 min), traffic control responsibility when arrived

Fire trucks: 2 engines + 1 ladder (specialized extrication if needed); hazmat assessment capability

Ambulances: 4-6 additional units from county mutual aid; staging area location decision

Scene recovery and incident wrap-up

Road closure impact: 6 miles of backup, estimated 2,400 vehicles affected, 45-90 min clearance time

Scene documentation: evidence preservation, witness statements, vehicle positions for investigation

Crew debriefing: critical incident stress management, after-action review within 24-48 hours

Crisis Decision-Making

Distinctive

Team Leadership

Strong

Resource Prioritization

Meeting Bar

Stakeholder Communication

Strong

4Feedback

How It Works

Master FDNY Oral Board Interviews

Fireground scenarios and EMS operations questions scored on incident command, crew safety, and tactical judgment. · Click to expand

1Your Oral Board Goals

Crisis Leadership

Practitioner

Team Communication

Practitioner

2Oral Board Case Prep

A 4-alarm fire in a commercial building has 3 missing occupants. Coordinate rescue...

CASE INTERVIEWHard

FDNY

3Frameworks

Framework

Immediate scene safety and patient prioritization

Hazard assessment and scene stabilization

Fire/fuel leak risk: 34% of major highway accidents, 2-4 min ignition window

Traffic hazard: secondary collision risk 18% within first 10 min without proper control

Triage decision: 8 patients total, 2 critical, 3 moderate, 3 minor — 2 available ambulances

Command structure and personnel allocation

On-scene capacity: 4 paramedics + 2 officers, 6 total for 8 patients + scene safety

ETA for advanced life support: 8-12 minutes from dispatch to scene (traffic dependent)

Radio coordination: dispatch alert issued, mutual aid response initiated, police traffic control en route (4-6 min)

Team dynamics and communication under stress

Crew coordination and role clarity

Crew experience: 2 paramedics (8+ yrs), 2 EMT-basic (2-3 yrs), 2 officers (5 yrs avg)

Communication failures: 23% of scene management errors trace to unclear command or role confusion

Stress management: adrenaline response can impair decision-making; critical decisions within 3-5 min

Stakeholder communication

Family members: 2 patients conscious and asking for loved ones; emotional escalation risk

Bystanders: 40+ vehicles backed up, some approaching scene; traffic control and safety messaging needed

Resource coordination and recovery priorities

Incoming resources and hand-off planning

Police units: 3-4 units en route (4-8 min), traffic control responsibility when arrived

Fire trucks: 2 engines + 1 ladder (specialized extrication if needed); hazmat assessment capability

Ambulances: 4-6 additional units from county mutual aid; staging area location decision

Scene recovery and incident wrap-up

Road closure impact: 6 miles of backup, estimated 2,400 vehicles affected, 45-90 min clearance time

Scene documentation: evidence preservation, witness statements, vehicle positions for investigation

Crew debriefing: critical incident stress management, after-action review within 24-48 hours

4Feedback

Crisis Decision-Making

Distinctive

Team Leadership

Strong

Resource Prioritization

Meeting Bar

Stakeholder Communication

Strong

Repeat

Practice Library

FDNY exercises

You arrive first due at a 10-75 in a 6-story multiple dwelling. Heavy smoke is pushing...

CASE INTERVIEWHard

Fire & EMS · Fireground TacticsFDNY

During overhaul operations, a member of your crew falls through a weakened floor and is...

CASE INTERVIEWHard

Fire & EMS · Mayday & Crew SafetyFDNY

A subway derailment has produced 40+ casualties across two platforms. You are the first...

LEARNHard

Fire & EMS · Mass Casualty IncidentFDNY

Tell me about a time you put the safety of others before your own comfort or...

BEHAVIORALMedium

Behavioral · Courage & ServiceFDNY

Describe a situation where you had to work closely with a team under physically...

BEHAVIORALMedium

Behavioral · Teamwork & ResilienceFDNY