What should be considered after search and rescue is completed without progress toward fire control?

• A. Withdrawal of crews should be considered.
• B. Increase resources to search more.
• C. Begin interior attack.
• D. Continue interior search.

Answer: (A)

When search and rescue is finished but there’s no progress toward gaining fire control, the priority shifts from interior operations to safety and reassessment. With no advancing fire control, keeping crews inside risks entrapment and wasted effort, so withdrawing interior crews is the prudent move. This frees resources to protect exposures, strengthen the defensive plan, and reallocate teams as needed.

Increasing resources to search more isn’t warranted because search and rescue has been completed. Beginning or continuing interior attack isn’t appropriate if there’s no progress toward control, and would expose crews to ongoing hazards without improving the situation.