Before making an exterior opening in a building during SAR, teams should coordinate with whom?

• A. The local fire department only
• B. The incident commander and ventilation teams
• C. The building owner
• D. The residents nearby

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that opening a building exterior for ventilation is a tactical move that changes smoke and heat flow, so it must be coordinated within the overall incident plan. The incident commander sets priorities, monitors overall safety, and ensures every action supports the mission. The ventilation team carries out the actual ventilation work—deciding where and how big the opening should be, when to create it, and how to manage the airflow to prevent worsening conditions or creating dangerous backdrafts. By working together, they align the opening with search priorities, crew safety, and the larger strategy for controlling fire behavior.

Relying on only one party or bringing in non-operational players like residents or the building owner can lead to misaligned actions or safety risks, since the ventilation action must fit within the incident’s objectives and be executed with a clear plan and real-time oversight.