1.
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
Supplemented by Ryann U. Castro

2.
WHAT IS THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM?
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a model for
command, control, and coordination of emergency response at the site
level.
2

3.
LESSONS WITHOUT FORMAL ICS
World Trade Centre


3
“The
Police
and
Fire
Departments did not work
together that day, and they
rarely did before.” (Command
and Control issue)
“Other firefighters appear to
have been using one radio
channel
while
evacuation
orders went out over another.”
(Communications issue)

4.
LESSONS WITHOUT FORMAL ICS
Firestorm 2003
 “The criticisms the Review
Team heard ranged from too
many bosses, to no one
running the ship, to lack of
coordination, to jurisdictions
and
responsibilities
were
confusing.”
(Command
&
Control issues)
4

5.
WHY USE THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM?
The same ICS structure can also be used to coordinate site support at
an Emergency Operations Centre or regional/provincial support
activity, or national support activity.
5

6.
WHO USES THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
6
RCMP
Municipal Police
Ambulance Services
Fire Services
Airport Authorities
Transport Authorities
Food Inspectors
Border Services
Health Providers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Industry
Military
First Nations Groups
Hospitals
Labor Unions
Sheriff Services
Correctional Centers
Schools
Shopping Centers

7.
HISTORY OF ICS
FIRESCOPE
Wildland fires in the 1970s:
• Multiple agencies involved
• Organizational difficulties experienced
• Result was the development of the original ICS
7

8.
REOCCURRING PROBLEM AREAS:







8
Terminology
Organizational structure
Communications
Action plans
Span of control
Incident facilities
Resource management

9.
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
KEY POINTS

10.
ICS PRINCIPLES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
10
Five Primary Functions
Establishing and Transferring Command
Single or Unified Command Structure
Management by Objectives
Consolidated Incident Action Plans
Comprehensive Resource Management
Unity and Chain of Command
Manageable Span of Control
Modular Organization
Personnel Accountability
Common Terminology
Integrated Communications

11.
ICS RESPONSE GOALS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
11
Provide for safety and health of all responders
Save lives
Reduce suffering
Protect public health
Protect government infrastructure
Protect property
Protect the environment
Reduce economic and social losses

12.
FIVE PRIMARY ICS MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
Command
Operations
12
Planning
Logistics
Finance/
Admin

13.
ICS RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
Command
The “Boss”
Operations

The “Do-ers”
Planning

The “Thinkers”
Logistics

The “Getters”
Finance/Admin
13


The “Payers”

14.
THE WEDDING…
Bridal Shower
Billing
Drinks
Invitations
Rehearsal
Licenses
Gifts
Accommodations
Clothing (Her)
Hair Styling
Photos
Cake
Bachelor Party
Reception
Music
Rings
Food
Clothing (Him)
Ceremony
Transportation
Rentals
Venues Flowers
Service Providers Travel
Registry
14

15.
THE WEDDING…
Potential problem areas?
 Organization
 Communication
 Planning
 Span of control
 Facilities
 Resources
 Costs
15

16.
THE WEDDING…
Bridal Shower
Billing
Drinks
Invitations
Rehearsal
Licenses
Gifts
Accommodations
Clothing (Her)
Hair Styling
Photos
Cake
Bachelor Party
Reception
Music
Rings
Food
Clothing (Him)
Ceremony
Transportation
Rentals
Venues Flowers
Service Providers Travel
Registry
16

17.
“OPERATION BRIDEZILLA”
Command
Planning
Bridal Shower
Flowers
Transportation
Vendors
Bachelor Party
Food
Travel
Services
Rehearsal
Registry
Accommodation
Insurance
Ceremony
Music
Licenses
Rentals
Reception
Seating
Venues
Billing
Invitations
Cake
17
Logistics
Finance/
Admin
Operations

18.
THE WEDDING…
Practical examples of ICS usage…

Social events
 Athletic tournaments
 Demonstrations
 Work stoppages
ICS is “organized common sense”
18

19.
COMMAND


19
Sets objectives and priorities
Responsible for all incident or
event activity

20.
SINGLE COMMAND


20
The
Incident
Commander
is
responsible for all incidents or event
activity.
There will always be an Incident
Commander.

21.
UNIFIED COMMAND
A
B
A-ICS
C
21
C-ICS
B-ICS

22.
UNIFIED COMMAND
A
B
A
C
22
B
C

23.
TRANSFER OF COMMAND
As an incident grows and becomes more complex, a transfer of
command to a more qualified person may take place.
23

24.
COMMAND STAFF POSITIONS
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
24
Planning
Logistics
Finance/Admin

25.
INFORMATION OFFICER
The Information Officer:


Is responsible for interface with
the media.

25
Coordinates the release of
information to the public and
responders.
Works in cooperation with the
E/DOC Information Officer.

26.
SAFETY OFFICER
The Safety Officer:


26
Formulates measures to protect
personnel safety
Takes immediate action to stop
or prevent unsafe acts when
conditions or time do not permit
going through lines of authority

27.
SAFETY OFFICER?
27

28.
LIAISON OFFICER
The Liaison Officer:


Acts as a diplomat

28
Acts as the point of contact for
assisting or cooperating
agencies
Works with private contractors
to address needs

29.
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES
An Agency Representative is an individual
assigned to an incident from an assisting or
cooperating agency
(Who has been delegated full authority to make
decisions on all matters affecting that agency’s
participation at the incident).
29

30.
GENERAL STAFF POSITIONS
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
Section
30
Planning
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/Admin
Section

31.
OPERATIONS
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
Section
31
Planning
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/Admin
Section

32.
OPERATIONS
• Conducts tactical
operations
• Develops the
tactical objectives
and organization
• Directs all
Resources
32

33.
PLANNING
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
Section
33
Planning
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/Admin
Section

34.
PLANNING


Maintains status of
resources

Prepares Incident Action
Plan (IAP)

34
Collects, evaluates, and
displays incident information
Prepares other incident
related documentation

35.
INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
35

36.
DIVIDING AN INCIDENT
36

37.
INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
37

38.
INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
38

39.
DIVIDING AN INCIDENT
39

40.
LOGISTICS
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
Section
40
Planning
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/Admin
Section

41.
LOGISTICS


Provides resources

41
Provides services and support to meet the incident- or event’s
needs
Provides other services

42.
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION
IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Operations
Section
42
Planning
Section
Logistics
Section
Finance/Admin
Section

43.
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION

Keeps track of incident related
expenses


43
procurement contracts


equipment records
other financial related expenses
of the incident
Monitors costs

44.
MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES
Objectives
 Attainable
 Measurable
 Flexible
44

45.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ICS
Single Resource
Includes Personnel and Equipment
Strike Team
Combination of same kind and type
Task Force
Combination of Single Resources
45

46.
RESOURCE STATUS CONDITIONS IN ICS
Available
Assigned
46
Out of Service

47.
UNITY AND CHAIN OF COMMAND
OPERATIONS
SECTION
STAGING
AREA
SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
BRANCHES
DIVISIONS
GROUPS
Task Forces
Single
Resources
47
Strike Teams
Single
Resources
individual has a
designated
Task Forces
Strike Teams
In ICS every
supervisor

48.
MODULAR ORGANIZATION
Command
Command
Staff
Operations
Branch 1
A
B
C
Medical
Other
Branches
Division/
Group
Resources
48

49.
SPAN OF CONTROL
Span of control is the number of resources
that one supervisory level can effectively
manage.
In ICS span of control ranges from 3 to 7.
(1:3, 1:7)
49

50.
COMMON TERMINOLOGY
Use ICS position titles:

In multi-agency incidents to provide standardization.

All ICS communications should use clear text (that is, plain
language). Do not use radio codes, agency-specific
codes, acronyms, or other jargon.

In ordering resources to ensure understanding.

To allow most qualified personnel to be used.
“I don’t have a qualified IC for this incident.
Does your agency have one that could be assigned?”
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51.
INCIDENT COMMAND POST


Only one per incident

May be located with other facilities

51
Location where primary command functions are performed
Normally not relocated

52.
STAGING AREAS





Temporary locations for resources awaiting assignments
Resources on a three minute available status
May include fueling and sanitation
Staging Area Manager is required
May be designated for certain kinds of resources
S
52

53.
HELIBASE/S

Location
where
helicopters
parked, maintained, fueled, and loaded
H
53
may
be

54.
HELISPOT/S


Temporary locations where helicopters can safely land and take
off
Used to load or off-load personnel, equipment, and supplies
H-3
54

55.
CAMPS/BASES




Temporary locations to provide services to incident personnel
Primary support activity
Logistics Section located at Base
Out-of-service equipment and personnel normally located here
C
55
B

56.
ICS MULTI-LEVEL RESPONSE
8. Manage Additional Resources
7. Establish Additional Facilities
6. Review and Modify the
Incident Action Plan
5. Develop Appropriate
Organization
4. Manage Resources
3. Organize The Site
2. Determine Initial Objectives,
Strategies & Tactics
1. Establish Initial Command
56

57.
CONSIDER
The “Summit of the Americas” in
Quebec
City
required
the
registration of 7500 residents,
deployment of over 6000 riot police,
1000 workers to build a 4 km fence
to contain 25 - 60,000 protesters at a
cost of $100 million.
57

58.
EMERGENCY/DISASTER OPERATIONS CENTER
Key Points
58

59.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
 Comprehensive management scheme
 Ensures coordinated & organized Provincial
response & recovery
 Common response culture
 Plans are similar
 Only one “system” to learn
 Eliminates duplication
59

60.
MULTI-LEVEL RESPONSE STRUCTURE
ICS principles are used at all levels.
NATIONAL
REGIONAL/PROVINCIAL
SITE SUPPORT LEVEL
E/DOC
SITE LEVEL
INCIDENT COMMAND POST
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61.
QUESTIONS?
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