Which statement is true regarding Case II recoveries and Case III departures?

• A. Case II recoveries shall not be conducted concurrently with Case III departures.
• B. Case II recoveries may be conducted concurrently with Case III departures.
• C. Case II recoveries must always occur before Case III departures.
• D. Case II recoveries are optional when Case III is operating.

Answer: (A)

Sequencing safety operations is the focus here: Case II recoveries are procedures that require a controlled environment with focused resources to securely recover personnel or assets, while Case III departures involve moving those assets out of the area, which can pull resources away and create new risks. Conducting both at the same time can lead to conflicts for scarce assets, communication gaps, and crowding of responders, making it harder to maintain situational awareness and ensure safety. Keeping the two apart prevents resource competition and maintains a clear, safe operating picture, so the rule is that Case II recoveries shall not be conducted concurrently with Case III departures.