What term describes a group of firefighters working independently from an apparatus?

The term that describes a group of firefighters operating independently from an apparatus is "group." In the context of incident command and firefighting operations, a group refers specifically to a team that is assigned to perform a task or function, such as suppression, ventilation, or rescue, without the immediate support of a fire engine or other apparatus. Groups are often deployed in the field to tackle specific objectives within an incident scene and can work autonomously while reporting back to the command structure.

In contrast, terms like "crew," "division," and "branch" have distinct meanings within firefighting operations. A crew generally refers to the personnel assigned to a specific apparatus or vehicle. Divisions and branches are higher organizational structures used to manage large incidents more effectively, where divisions typically represent a geographic section of an incident scene, while branches can be used to create sub-units under a division for command and operational efficiency. Therefore, "group" is the most accurate term to describe firefighters working independently from an apparatus.