Understanding the Incident Command System: A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Incident Management

1. Chapter 13The Incident Command System

2. Introduction • Incidents come in all types and sizes • As you become more skilled in size-up and applying strategic priorities, you can better assist the person in command of the incident • By learning ICS prior to an incident, resources from different agencies and disciplines can come together at the scene and operate in an effective, coordinated manner

3. Learning Objective 1 • Need for a Plan at Every Incident • MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY • Primarily first-in fire officer • Resources and control • INCIDENT PLANNING • Effective utilization of resources • Resolve incident without further damage

4. Learning Objective 2 • Offensive, Defensive, • and Combination Attacks • OFFENSIVE MODE • Resources applied directly • Risk versus benefit • DEFENSIVE MODE • Fire is too large or well established • Risk to personnel is too high

5. Learning Objective 2 • Offensive, Defensive, • and Combination Attacks • COMBINATION MODE • Both offensive and defensive modes • Requires good communication • Used on large wildland incidents • Used to add structure protection • Requires careful coordination

6. Learning Objectives 3 and 4 • Need for Organized Thought Process • Strategic Priorities at an Incident • LAYMAN’S SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • Rescue • Exposure protection • Confinement • Extinguishment • Overhaul • Cont.

7. Learning Objectives 3 and 4 • Need for Organized Thought Process • Strategic Priorities at an Incident • LAYMAN’S SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • Salvage operations • Ventilation • ORDER OF SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES • Not necessarily performed in order • Acronym is “RECEO SV”

8. Learning Objective 5 • Strategy, Tactics, and Tasks • STRATEGIES • Plans to achieve a goal or objective • TACTICS • Actions taken to achieve strategies • TASKS • Pieces of work to achieve the tactics

9. Learning Objective 5 • Strategy, Tactics, and Tasks • COMMUNICATION • Personnel should not need lengthy instruction • Knowledge of priorities and tactics • Participants should understand their responsibilities • Should be two-way • Incident commanders • Company officers

10. Learning Objectives 6 and 7 • Need for Size-Up of an Incident • Condition Reports and Performing Size-Up • STEPS FOR SIZE-UP • Determining facts • Anticipating probabilities • Assessing your own situation • Making a decision • Planning the operation

11. Learning Objectives 6 and 7 • Need for Size-Up of an Incident • Condition Reports and Performing Size-Up • WILDLAND FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS • Correct location • Size • Fuel type • Slope and aspect • Rate of spread • Cont.

12. Learning Objectives 6 and 7 • Need for Size-Up of an Incident • Condition Reports and Performing Size-Up • WILDLAND FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS • Exposures • Weather conditions • Potential of the fire • Additional resources needed • Objectives

13. Learning Objectives 6 and 7 • Need for Size-Up of an Incident • Condition Reports and Performing Size-Up • STRUCTURE FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS • Correct location • Height/stories • Size • Type of structure • Location and area involved • Cont.

14. Learning Objectives 6 and 7 • Need for Size-Up of an Incident • Condition Reports and Performing Size-Up • STRUCTURE FIRE REPORT OF CONDITIONS • Level of involvement • Exposures • Potential of fire • Additional resources needed • Objectives • Obtain an “all clear”

15. Learning Objective 8 • National Incident Management • System (NIMS) • HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 5 • Issued in response to September 11, 2001, attacks • Called for National Incident Management System • ESTABLISHMENT OF NIMS • Incident Command System (ICS) as a key feature • Announced in March 2004

16. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS) • Standardized all-hazard incident management concept • Considerable internal flexibility • HISTORY OF ICS • Developed in 1970s following catastrophic fires • Response problems due to management of incidents

17. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • ICS BUILT ON BEST PRACTICES • Based on successful business practices • Tested in 30 years of applications • WHAT ICS IS DESIGNED TO DO • Meet the needs of incidents of any kind or size • Avoid duplicating effort

18. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • SOME APPLICATIONS OF ICS • Fire, both structural and wildland • Human and animal disease outbreaks • Hazardous material incidents • Terrorist incidents • National special security events • Other planned events

19. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • ICS FEATURES • Common terminology and clear text • Modular organization • Management of objectives • Reliance on an Incident Action Plan (IAP) • Management of span of control • Cont.

20. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • ICS FEATURES • Predesignated incident locations and facilities • Resource management • Integrated communications • Chain of command and unity of command • Cont.

21. Learning Objectives 9 and 11 • Components of Incident Command System • Unified Command at Multijurisdictional Incident • ICS FEATURES • Unified command • Transfer of command • Accountability • Mobilization • Information and intelligence management

22. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • PERFORMANCE OF MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS • Incident Command • Operations • Planning • Logistics • Finance/Administration

23. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • INCIDENT COMMANDER • Overall role • Has overall responsibility for managing incident • Responsibilities • Selecting and changing Incident Commanders • May change to meet needs of incident

24. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • EXPANDING THE ORGANIZATION • Command staff • General staff • ICS Section Chiefs • and Deputies

25. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • OPERATIONS SECTION • Operations Section Chief • Greatest technical expertise of the problem • Operations Section: Maintaining span of control • Operations Section: Expanding and contracting

26. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • PLANNING SECTION • Resources Unit • Situation Unit • Documentation Unit • Demobilization Unit

27. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • LOGISTICS SECTION • Logistics Section: Major activities • Logistics Service Branch • Logistics Support Branch

28. Learning Objective 10 • Positions and Functions in ICS • FINANCE ADMINISTRATION SECTION • Finance Administration Section: Major activities • Finance Administration Section: Units

29. Summary • At any time at an incident, you should be able to answer three questions: What do you have? What do you need? What is your plan? • For effective management of any type of incident, there must be an Incident Action Plan • With the standardization of the ICS across the nation through NIMS, a management team or resources from another area can be brought in to assist with an incident if the need arises • Management staff can adapt the structure of the organization to meet incident needs