What does the Warm Zone refer to during an incident?

The Warm Zone is designated as the area that serves as a buffer between the Hot Zone, which is the area requiring the highest level of safety and protective equipment due to hazardous conditions, and the Cold Zone, which is generally safe for personnel. In the context of an incident, the Warm Zone is primarily utilized for decontamination and support operations, where personnel can recover and stabilize but are not exposed to the direct threats present in the Hot Zone.

In the Warm Zone, personnel may perform tasks such as decontaminating individuals who have exited the Hot Zone, conducting triage, or providing medical assessments and treatment. It represents a controlled environment where appropriate safety measures are still in place, allowing for the management of hazardous situations while not being directly within the most dangerous areas of the incident.

This definition also clarifies the roles of other zones. For instance, a command post is typically located in the Cold Zone where communication and strategy develop, while a safety zone is focused on protecting personnel against anticipated dangers, and restricted entry areas are often related to security or access control rather than direct operability or support functions. Understanding these distinctions is vital for effective incident management and response.