Which of the following describes the cold zone?

• A. The cold zone houses decon operations.
• B. The cold zone is used to store contaminated PPE.
• C. The cold zone is the clean area for command, staging, and public safety.
• D. The cold zone is where waste is stored.

Answer: (C)

The cold zone is the clean, non-contaminated area where the incident is managed and support functions operate. It’s the space farthest from the hazard where the command post sits, resources are staged, and public safety personnel coordinate operations without being exposed to the danger.

That’s why the description of the cold zone as the clean area for command, staging, and public safety is the best fit. Decontamination operations happen in the warm zone (between the hot zone and the cold zone), and handling of contaminated PPE or waste is not done in the cold zone.