INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM

Supplemented by Ryann U. Castro
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
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)
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
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
WHO USES THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

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

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REOCCURRING PROBLEM AREAS:









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Terminology
Organizational structure
Communications
Action plans
Span of control
Incident facilities
Resource management
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
KEY POINTS
ICS PRINCIPLES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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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
ICS RESPONSE GOALS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

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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
FIVE PRIMARY ICS MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS

Command

Operations

12

Planning

Logistics

Finance/
Admin
ICS RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
Command

The “Boss”

Operations



The “Do-ers”

Planning



The “Thinkers”

Logistics



The “Getters”

Finance/Admin

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



The “Payers”
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
THE WEDDING…
Potential problem areas?
 Organization
 Communication
 Planning
 Span of control
 Facilities
 Resources
 Costs

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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
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“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
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Logistics

Finance/
Admin

Operations
THE WEDDING…
Practical examples of ICS usage…


Social events
 Athletic tournaments
 Demonstrations
 Work stoppages
ICS is “organized common sense”

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COMMAND




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



20

The
Incident
Commander
is
responsible for all incidents or event
activity.
There will always be an Incident
Commander.
UNIFIED COMMAND
A

B

A-ICS

C

21

C-ICS

B-ICS
UNIFIED COMMAND
A

B

A

C

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B

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

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COMMAND STAFF POSITIONS

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations

24

Planning

Logistics

Finance/Admin
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.
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
SAFETY OFFICER?

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LIAISON OFFICER
The Liaison Officer:




Acts as a diplomat



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Acts as the point of contact for
assisting or cooperating
agencies

Works with private contractors
to address needs
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).

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GENERAL STAFF POSITIONS

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations
Section

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Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section
OPERATIONS

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations
Section

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Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section
OPERATIONS

• Conducts tactical
operations

• Develops the
tactical objectives
and organization
• Directs all
Resources
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PLANNING

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations
Section

33

Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section
PLANNING





Maintains status of
resources



Prepares Incident Action
Plan (IAP)



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Collects, evaluates, and
displays incident information

Prepares other incident
related documentation
INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

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DIVIDING AN INCIDENT

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INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

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INCIDENT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

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DIVIDING AN INCIDENT

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LOGISTICS

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations
Section

40

Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section
LOGISTICS




Provides resources



41

Provides services and support to meet the incident- or event’s
needs

Provides other services
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations
Section

42

Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section
FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION


Keeps track of incident related
expenses



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procurement contracts





equipment records

other financial related expenses
of the incident

Monitors costs
MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES

Objectives
 Attainable
 Measurable
 Flexible

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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN ICS
Single Resource
Includes Personnel and Equipment

Strike Team
Combination of same kind and type

Task Force
Combination of Single Resources

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RESOURCE STATUS CONDITIONS IN ICS

Available

Assigned
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Out of Service
UNITY AND CHAIN OF COMMAND

OPERATIONS
SECTION
STAGING
AREA
SPECIAL
OPERATIONS

BRANCHES

DIVISIONS

GROUPS

Task Forces

Single
Resources

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Strike Teams

Single
Resources

individual has a
designated

Task Forces

Strike Teams

In ICS every

supervisor
MODULAR ORGANIZATION
Command

Command
Staff

Operations
Branch 1
A

B

C

Medical

Other
Branches
Division/
Group

Resources

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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)

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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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INCIDENT COMMAND POST



Only one per incident



May be located with other facilities



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Location where primary command functions are performed

Normally not relocated
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
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HELIBASE/S


Location
where
helicopters
parked, maintained, fueled, and loaded

H
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may

be
HELISPOT/S



Temporary locations where helicopters can safely land and take
off
Used to load or off-load personnel, equipment, and supplies

H-3
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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
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B
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

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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.

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EMERGENCY/DISASTER OPERATIONS CENTER
Key Points

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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

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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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QUESTIONS?

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Incident Command System