In a Mayday situation, what must happen for companies on-scene to continue their assignments?

In a Mayday situation, the safety and coordination of the responding companies must be a top priority to ensure that emergency personnel can safely manage the incident while assisting the individual in distress. The correct approach in such scenarios is that companies must receive specific authorization from the Level II Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Group Supervisor.

This formal authorization is critical as it ensures that there is a clear command structure and that the teams are operating under an established protocol designed for high-risk environments. The RIT is specifically trained to respond to emergencies like a Mayday, and they take charge of coordinating the rescue of the endangered firefighter. Their authorization is essential to maintain situational awareness and manage the potential chaos that can arise in a high-stress situation.

In contrast, relying solely on the Incident Commander for all company actions may not provide the necessary focus on the immediate rescue operation. While the Incident Commander oversees the entire incident, the RIT Group Supervisor is the most qualified to assess the current status and needs of the teams involved in a rescue or extrication operation. Furthermore, peers might not have the authority or comprehensive view required to determine whether it is safe for other teams to continue their operations. Lastly, the completion of current tasks does not guarantee that conditions remain safe to