What is the role of the Incident Commander in relation to the initial incident responsibilities?

The role of the Incident Commander is fundamentally about establishing structure and direction during an incident's initial response. Developing the Incident Action Plan (IAP) is pivotal as it provides a clear framework outlining the objectives, strategies, and resources needed to manage the incident effectively. The IAP is crucial for establishing a common operational picture and ensuring that all responding agencies are working towards the same goals.

In the initial phase of an incident, the Incident Commander assesses the situation, gathers necessary information, and then uses that to formulate the IAP. This plan is tailored to address the immediate needs of the situation and guides all responders in their actions. By creating the IAP, the Incident Commander lays the groundwork for coordinated and effective incident management, enabling firefighters and other responders to operate with a shared understanding of their roles and tasks.

While controlling and directing firefighting efforts is a key responsibility of the Incident Commander, it is inherently part of implementing the strategies outlined in the IAP. Perform on-scene evacuations can be critical, but it falls under the action steps of the IAP rather than a primary responsibility of forming it. Financial and administrative tasks may be significant during and after an incident but are typically not within the immediate purview of the Incident Commander during the initial response