What should you do when searching inside a building with limited visibility?

While notifying command of weakened floor areas is a critical aspect of maintaining safety during operations, especially in conditions of limited visibility, the most effective and standard practice is to always carry a flashlight.

In low visibility situations, such as smoky conditions or when there is insufficient light, using a flashlight allows firefighters to illuminate their surroundings, identify hazards, and search systematically and safely. Carrying a flashlight helps maintain situational awareness and ensures that firefighters can navigate through the space carefully, avoiding potential dangers such as uneven surfaces or fire-related hazards.

While notifying command about weakened floor areas and other structural concerns is essential for overall safety and communication, the immediate focus in a low-visibility search should be on having adequate visibility to perform the search effectively and safely. Moving quickly might lead to oversights and increased risk, and limiting the search to the first floor does not take advantage of the full operation potential in a building where victims could be located on multiple floors. Therefore, having a flashlight is the most appropriate practice for searching in limited visibility conditions.