What role does an Incident Commander typically play during a fire emergency?

An Incident Commander is responsible for making all operational decisions during a fire emergency. This role involves assessing the situation, determining the tactics to be used to control the fire, and ensuring the safety of personnel and civilians. The Incident Commander leads the incident management team in implementing strategies to achieve the objectives of the response to the incident.

This role requires the Incident Commander to be actively involved in managing resources, coordinating with various teams, and making real-time decisions based on the changing dynamics of the emergency. They are in charge of setting priorities, allocating tasks to teams, and ensuring an effective and efficient response.

While communication with the press may be part of the broader incident management and public information role, it is not the primary responsibility of the Incident Commander. Logistic oversight is important but is just one component of the operational decisions that the Incident Commander must manage. Monitoring from a distance does not align with the proactive and engaged leadership required in emergency response situations. Thus, making operational decisions constitutes the core responsibility of an Incident Commander.