Where do you conduct search and rescue operations?

• A. Neutral Zone
• B. Hot Zone
• C. Warm Zone
• D. Cold Zone

Answer: (B)

In hazardous-response search and rescue, operations are organized into zones to manage risk. The zone closest to the danger where rescuers enter and actively search for victims is where the rescue work happens, with full protective gear and strict safety controls in place. This is the hot zone, the area where the hazard is present and immediate rescue actions occur.

The other zones serve different roles: the cold zone is a safe perimeter used for command, triage, and medical treatment; the warm zone is the buffer area where decontamination and transitions occur before moving to safety; neutral zone isn’t a standard designation for active rescue and isn’t where rescues are conducted.