What essential equipment is typically carried by a Rapid Intervention Crew?

The essential equipment typically carried by a Rapid Intervention Crew includes spare Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and a rope rescue system. This choice is correct because the primary mission of a Rapid Intervention Crew is to ensure the safety of firefighters and to provide immediate support in rescue scenarios. Spare SCBAs are crucial as they allow trapped or distressed firefighters to breathe safely during a rescue operation. The availability of a rope rescue system is equally important, as it enables the crew to execute various rescue techniques in situations where gravity or height is a concern, such as retrieving someone from a confined space or elevated areas.

The other options, while containing equipment that may be useful in certain scenarios, do not align as closely with the specific function of a Rapid Intervention Crew. A fire engine and ax pertain more to firefighting itself rather than rescue. Firefighting foam and hoses are integral to extinguishing fires, not specifically for rescuing trapped individuals. First aid kits and traffic cones might play roles in overall emergency management or scene safety but do not directly support the primary mission of rescuing endangered firefighters under hostile conditions. Thus, the selection of spare SCBAs and a rope rescue system directly supports the critical focus of a Rapid Intervention Crew.