What information should a firefighter retrieve from a caller during an emergency?

Retrieving the number and location of victims is crucial during an emergency because it allows firefighters to prioritize their rescue efforts and allocate resources effectively. Knowing how many individuals are affected and their precise whereabouts helps ensure that rescuers can navigate the scene quickly and address any life-threatening situations promptly. This information is vital for a successful response, as it informs incident command about the scale of the situation and can dictate rescue tactics and strategies utilized on-scene.

While details regarding the type of fire, availability of fire extinguishers, and the time of the incident can be valuable, the immediate need during an emergency is always to safeguard lives. Victim information directly impacts the urgency and approach of the response, making it the most critical data point to gather from a caller.