Master the Incident Command System (ICS) with this Knowledge Quiz

ICS Management Functions

• The five management functions in Incident Command System (ICS) are not Accounting.

ICS Acronyms

• COPLA stands for Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Administration.

ICS Management

• A single person can manage all five management functions in ICS when the incident is small or of short duration.
• Management by objectives in ICS allows the Incident Commander (IC) to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives.
• To set appropriate objectives, the IC must understand the incident situation, available resources, and priorities.

Unity of Command and Chain of Command

• Unity of command means each person reports to only one supervisor in ICS.
• Chain of command refers to the direct flow of authority and decision-making from the top down in the ICS organizational structure.

Incident Commander (IC) Roles

• When the IC becomes overwhelmed by a particular function, they can delegate tasks to subordinates or request additional resources.
• Directing the tactical response means the IC coordinates and directs resources to achieve the operational objectives.

ICS Organization

• Lower levels are subordinate to higher levels in the ICS organizational structure, with lower levels reporting to higher levels.

ICS Misconceptions

• A common misconception about ICS and the SEMS law is that ICS is only for large or complex incidents.

Span of Control

• The span of control in ICS is the number of individuals or teams a supervisor can effectively manage.
• The optimum span of control in ICS is 3-7 subordinates per supervisor.

ICS Terminology

• Common terminology in ICS ensures that all stakeholders understand the same meaning of terms and acronyms.

Unified Command

• The function of Unified Command in ICS is to enable multiple incident commanders to jointly manage a response effort.

Transfer of Command

• Transfer of command occurs when the incident commander is relieved or replaced, and the new commander assumes responsibility.

Initial Establishment of Command

• The initial establishment of command in ICS is based on the jurisdiction or authority having the primary responsibility for the incident.

ICS Philosophy

• The philosophy followed in ICS regarding staffing positions is that they should be filled based on the requirements of the incident, not based on the rank or title of the individual.

ICS Expansion

• The key principle behind the expansion of the ICS organization is that it should be modular, scalable, and flexible to adapt to changing incident needs.