What are the two main objectives of a structural search?

The two main objectives of a structural search are to search for life and assess fire condition. The primary focus during a structural search is to locate any victims who may be trapped inside a building, as this is critical to ensuring their safety and well-being. This aspect emphasizes the importance of thorough and expedient searches to locate occupants who may not be aware of the fire or may have become incapacitated.

Assessing fire condition is equally vital and involves determining the current status of the fire, including its location, intensity, and potential risk of escalation. This assessment informs firefighters of the necessary actions to take, such as prioritizing rescue attempts or transitioning to an offensive or defensive firefighting strategy depending on the situation. Together, these objectives ensure that search operations not only aim for human life safety but also provide essential information that influences firefighting tactics and resource deployment.