What is an essential goal of salvage operations during a fire incident?

Minimizing property loss is a fundamental goal of salvage operations during a fire incident. Salvage operations involve actions taken to protect property and valuables from damage, particularly from water used in firefighting efforts and any potential damage caused by the fire itself. These operations not only focus on removing items from the immediate vicinity of the fire but also aim to implement measures to prevent further damage, such as covering furniture or using water diversion methods. This proactive approach helps to reduce the economic impact of a fire on property owners and ensures that as much of the structure and its contents as possible can be saved or salvaged after the incident.

While preserving structure integrity, enhancing firefighter safety, and controlling fire spread are vital components of firefighting as a whole, the specific aim of salvage operations is to directly reduce property loss, which is central to their purpose and execution in emergency situations.