Salvage in the fire service consists of those methods and operating procedures allied to firefighting which aid in reducing which four types of damage during and after fires?

• A. Forcible entry, fire, water, and smoke
• B. Forcible entry, water, wind, and smoke
• C. Forcible entry, water, heat, and smoke
• D. Forcible entry, fire, wind, and smoke

Answer: (A)

Salvage is about protecting property and reducing losses by performing quick, targeted actions that limit the damage caused by the fire and by firefighting itself. The four damage types this work aims to reduce are the damage from the fire, the damage from the water used to fight it, the damage from smoke and soot, and the damage that can occur when access to the structure is gained for salvage activities (forcible entry). By gaining access when needed, protecting openings, covering valuables, removing or relocating contents, and controlling water and smoke spread, salvage minimizes these four damage sources. The other options mix in elements that aren’t treated as salvage-damage categories in this context, such as wind or heat.