Cooperative Personnel Services Firefighter (CPS) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Firefighter Exam Questions and Study Guide

Vertical evacuation should be prioritized during high-rise fire incidents because these situations often involve multiple stories and can lead to rapid fire spread. In high-rise buildings, people may be trapped on upper floors, where escape routes can quickly become compromised due to smoke and flames. The safest strategy in such scenarios often involves moving individuals safely downwards to lower levels or to the ground floor where they can exit the building.

In contrast, lower buildings and areas with low population density do not typically present the same challenges that require vertical evacuation. Lower buildings generally allow for easier horizontal evacuation to safety. Evacuating during nighttime when visibility is low can be complicated, but the priority of vertical evacuation is mainly dictated by the building's height and the associated risks of high-rise fires rather than visibility or structural height factors. Therefore, high-rise fire incidents are the primary scenario where prioritizing vertical evacuation is critical for ensuring the safety of occupants.