What is the primary responsibility of a company officer in the command role?

The primary responsibility of a company officer in the command role is to maintain control of the incident and direct resources effectively. This involves making crucial decisions about how to allocate personnel and equipment to respond to the situation at hand, ensuring that all aspects of the incident are managed efficiently. The company officer assesses the scene, prioritizes actions based on safety and effectiveness, and adapts the incident action plan as conditions change.

By maintaining control of the incident, the company officer ensures that the response is organized and that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities. This leadership is vital for minimizing confusion, maintaining safety on the scene, and achieving the incident's objectives.

While coordinating with external agencies, documenting incident activities, and managing public information releases are important functions that support the overall incident management, they are typically handled in conjunction with or after establishing immediate control of the incident and directing resources. Thus, the command role initially centers on maintaining control and directing operations.