If a structure is displaying signs of secondary collapse, what should responders prioritize?

When a structure exhibits signs of secondary collapse, the safety of personnel and victims becomes paramount. Prioritizing the stabilization of the site is essential to ensure that further collapses do not happen during operations. Stabilization efforts entail assessing the structural integrity and implementing measures to secure areas that may be prone to failure, which helps protect firefighters and other responders as they conduct their operations.

By stabilizing the scene first, responders can then safely assess the situation, plan further actions, and begin searching for trapped victims without the added risk of sudden structural failure. This approach prioritizes safety while still adhering to the urgency of search and rescue operations in potentially dangerous environments.

Other options, such as maximizing evacuation time or continuing a search in unsafe conditions, could endanger personnel and hinder rescue efforts. Ensuring the site is stabilized is a foundational step before any further actions can safely occur.