A rapid intervention team/crew should:

• A. Be dispatched to the scene as soon as the entry team has entered the building
• B. Consist of atleast 2 firefighters in full PPE
• C. Be assigned to rehab until needed
• D. Investigate all accidents and incidents

Answer: (B)

RIT is designed to be a ready safety net for crews operating inside a structure. The key requirement is that the team be capable of acting immediately to assist a firefighter in distress, which means having enough personnel who can work together under emergency conditions. At least two firefighters in full PPE ensures there is a minimum, functional rescue capability: one person can enter or approach with the other providing support, accountability, and immediate rescue actions if something goes wrong. The PPE ensures they are protected from heat, smoke, and hazards they’ll encounter inside the structure.

Dispatched after the entry team has entered would delay critical response, and rehab is for resting crews after strenuous work, not for standing by specifically as a rescue team. Investigating all accidents and incidents is the job of investigators, not the rapid intervention crew.