Which of the following is an essential action during a fire emergency?

Evacuating non-essential personnel is a crucial action during a fire emergency because the primary goal is to ensure the safety of all individuals present. In the event of a fire, it is vital to minimize the number of people in potentially dangerous situations and allow emergency responders to operate more effectively. By removing those who do not need to be in the area, it helps protect lives and facilitates better access for firefighters and emergency services, enabling them to manage the situation more efficiently.

While performing maintenance on equipment, conducting a fire drill, and checking resource inventories are important for overall safety and operational readiness, they are not actions that should be prioritized during an active fire emergency. These tasks can divert attention and resources away from immediate safety concerns, making them less relevant in the context of fire response. The focus in such emergencies must strictly be on evacuation and containment of the situation.