What is the primary purpose of a pre-incident plan?

The primary purpose of a pre-incident plan is to enhance response efficiency. This involves creating detailed strategies and gathering critical information about a facility before an emergency occurs. A well-developed pre-incident plan allows firefighters and first responders to understand the layout, hazards, and specific challenges of a building or area, which can significantly increase the speed and effectiveness of their response during an incident.

By having this information available, emergency personnel can make informed decisions quickly, coordinate resources appropriately, and execute tactics that are tailored to the unique characteristics of the structure or situation. This preparedness ultimately leads to better outcomes during emergencies, reducing risks to both responders and occupants.

While documentation of building occupants, forecasting fire incidents, and determining insurance liabilities might be secondary benefits of a pre-incident plan, they do not encapsulate its core objective, which is primarily focused on improving the overall efficiency of the emergency response.