Questions and Answers
Who determines who the Incident Commander will be at any given time?
When is the transfer of Command not necessary?
How should Officers involved in the transfer of Command communicate?
What is the first step in transferring Command?
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What should the new IC do after assuming Command?
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What happens when a later arriving Officer cannot locate or communicate with the initial IC?
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What is the primary reason for transferring Command?
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When should the first arriving Company Officer transfer Command?
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To whom should Command be transferred after the first transfer to an Officer of equal rank?
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Who may assume Command of an emergency incident after the Transfer of Command procedure has been completed?
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What happens to Command after it is transferred to an Officer of equal rank?
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When can Command be transferred to an Officer of lower rank?
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Study Notes
Incident Command Structure
- The size and nature of the emergency incident dictate who the Incident Commander (IC) will be at any given time.
- The first arriving Officer may not be the IC in larger incidents that require more capabilities and span of control.
Transfer of Command Procedure
- Transfer of Command involves face-to-face communication between Officers, or via radio if necessary.
- The new IC must receive the following information from the previous IC:
- General situation status
- Incident conditions
- Operational strategy update
- Tactical objectives
- Safety considerations
- Deployment status (assignment of personnel already on scene and additional resource requirements)
- If the new IC cannot locate or communicate with the previous IC, they will announce assumption of Command.
When to Transfer Command
- Command is transferred to improve the effectiveness of the Command organization.
- The arrival of a higher-ranking Officer does not automatically mean that Transfer of Command has occurred.
- Transfer of Command may occur when:
- The investigation reveals a situation that requires a task level action or Fast Attack mode.
- The IC cannot reasonably be involved in a task level activity and develop overall strategy at the same time.
- The incident escalates and requires more capabilities and span of control.
Transfer of Command Scenarios
- Transfer to an Officer of Equal Rank:
- Should only occur once.
- Command then becomes static.
- The next transfer of Command is to a Chief Officer who has arrived on scene.
- Transfer to an Officer of Higher Rank:
- The first arriving District Chief assumes Command of an emergency incident after Transfer of Command procedure.
- The first arriving Platoon Chief or Senior Chief Officer assumes Command of an emergency incident after Transfer of Command procedure.
- Transfer to an Officer of Lower Rank:
- May occur if the incident is approaching termination.
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