What is the primary goal of a firefighter during an incident response?

In the context of incident response, the primary goal of a firefighter is to ensure their own safety first and then address the incident. This approach is foundational in firefighting and emergency response because the safety of the responders directly impacts their ability to perform effectively during an emergency. If firefighters do not prioritize their own safety, they may put themselves in situations that could lead to injury or worse, which would hinder the response efforts and potentially endanger lives.

Once safety is assured, firefighters can then focus on effectively managing the incident, whether that involves extinguishing fires, rescuing individuals, or performing other necessary actions. This principle is reflected in the "two-in, two-out" rule, which mandates that firefighters work in teams and never enter dangerous situations alone, thereby ensuring that there is always a backup in place. By focusing on safety as a priority, firefighters can maintain operational effectiveness and better protect the lives of both themselves and the people they serve during an incident.