During a secondary search, rescuers should not remove SCBA until:

• A. The team finishes the search
• B. The supervisor or safety officer determines that the atmosphere is safe
• C. The crowd outside approves
• D. They are ordered by the incident commander

Answer: (B)

The key point is protecting the team's breathing safety by ensuring the atmosphere is actually safe before removing breathing protection. In hazardous environments, contaminants or low oxygen can linger even after other signs look okay, so a supervisor or safety officer must assess gas readings and overall air quality before allowing SCBA to come off. Their professional judgment ensures conditions meet safe limits, and removal follows that confirmed assessment. Finishing the search, crowd approval, or a commander's order alone does not guarantee safety without that air-quality determination.