What does the acronym RECEO-VS stand for?

• A. Rescue, Exposure, Confinement, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage
• B. Rescue, Evacuation, Containment, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage
• C. Rescue, Exposure, Confinement, Extinguishment, Overhaul, Ventilation, Storage
• D. Rescue, Exposure, Confinement, Evacuation, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage

Answer: (A)

RECEO-VS is the sequence firefighters use at structure fires to guide priorities from life safety to property conservation. Rescue focuses on saving people if it can be done without putting crews at risk. Exposure means protecting nearby areas and spaces that could be harmed by heat, flames, or smoke to prevent the fire from spreading. Confinement is about keeping the fire contained to the area of origin so it can be controlled more easily. Extinguishment is the actual work of putting the fire out. Overhaul follows to find and extinguish hidden fires and prevent rekindle. Ventilation then removes heat and smoke to improve conditions for crews and support final extinguishment and overhaul, and Salvage is about protecting and recovering property not directly damaged by the fire once the danger is reduced.

That ordering aligns with prioritizing life safety first, then preventing spread, then suppressing the fire, and finally dealing with smoke, hidden fires, and protecting valuables. The other options mix terms that aren’t part of this mnemonic (for example, evacuation instead of exposure, or storage instead of salvage) or use different terminology that isn’t standard for RECEO-VS.