What is the name of the thin reflective-foil layer attached to fiberglass used by wildland firefighters?

• A. Fire shelter
• B. Fire blanket
• C. Thermal shield
• D. Radiant barrier

Answer: (A)

This item tests understanding of the emergency fire shelter used by wildland firefighters. The thin reflective-foil layer attached to fiberglass is the key protective feature of the fire shelter, which is issued as a last-resort device to survive an entrapment in intense heat. The shelter combines a fiberglass blanket with an aluminized reflective foil on the exterior. The reflective foil reflects radiant heat away from the wearer, while the surrounding layers and the trapped air between them slow heat transfer, helping to keep the firefighter's body temperature down during extreme conditions.

A fire blanket is a general blanket used to smother small fires or wrap individuals for cooling, not the specialized shelter designed for entrapment. A thermal shield or radiant barrier is a broader term used in other contexts (like building construction) and does not describe the firefighter’s emergency shelter.