CMD112

Incident
Command
System
Orientation
(For British Columbia)

Facilitated
Review
Session
1
 Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the distance learning
course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the Incident Command System
2. Identify the types of incidents that use ICS
3. Explain the twelve ICS principles
4. Identify common ICS responsibilities

2
 What is BCERMS?
• British Columbia Emergency Response
Management System
• Comprehensive “all-hazards” management
system
• Designed to:
– Standardize process for multi-jurisdictional
response
– Guide agencies/departments in preparing
emergency plans
– Clarify roles & responsibilities
– Facilitate coordination of public & private sector
response

3
BCERMS Response Goals
1. Provide for safety & health of responders
2. Save lives
3. Reduce suffering
4. Protect public health
5. Protect government infrastructure
6. Protect property
7. Protect the environment
8. Reduce economic and social losses
4
 BCERMS Components
1. Operations & Control
2. Qualifications
3. Technology
4. Training
5. Publications

5
BCERMS Response Structure

LEVELS FACILITIES

Provincial Central PECC Provincial Emergency

Coordination Level Coordination Centre

Provincial Regional Provincial Regional Emergency

Coordination Level PREOC Operations Centre

Emergency
Site Support Operations Centre
EOC

Incident
Site ICP Command
Post

6
 What is the Incident
Command System?
• a model for command, control, and
coordination of emergency response at the
site level

• ICS principles can also be used to

coordinate site-support activity at other
response levels (i.e., EOC…)

7
 Applications

Fires, hazardous materials,

multi-casualty incidents…

8
 Applications

Single and multi-

agency law
enforcement
incidents

9
 Applications

• Multi-jurisdiction & multi-agency responses

• Air, rail, water or ground transportation
accidents
• Search & Rescue Missions
• Oil spill response & recovery
• Planned Events
• Private sector emergency management
programs

10
 ICS Principles

1. Five Primary Functions

2. Establishing and Transferring Command
3. Single or Unified Command Structure
4. Management by Objectives
5. Consolidated Incident Action Plans
6. Comprehensive Resource Management

11
 ICS Principles

7. Unity and Chain of Command

8. Manageable Span of Control
9. Modular Organization
10. Personnel Accountability
11. Common Terminology
12. Integrated Communications

12
 1. Five Primary Functions

Command

Operations Logistics Finance/

Planning
Administration

13
 Command

• Sets objectives and priorities

• Responsible for all incident or event
activity
• There will always be an Incident
Commander (IC)

14
 Command Staff Positions

IC
Information Officer
Safety Officer
Liaison Officer

Operations Planning Logistics Finance/Admin

15
 Command Staff

Information Officer
One per incident who serves as a central point
for information dissemination

Safety Officer
Anticipates, detects, and corrects unsafe
situations

Liaison Officer
Contact point for representatives of assisting and
cooperating agencies

16
 Operations

Conducts tactical operations

Develops the tactical objectives and
organization
Directs all Resources

17
 Planning

Collects, evaluates, and displays

incident information
Maintains status of resources
Prepares Incident Action Plan (IAP)
Prepares other incident related
documentation

18
 Logistics
Provides services and support to
meet the incident or event’s needs
Provides resources
Provides other services

19
Finance / Administration

• Keeps track of incident related

expenses
– equipment records
– procurement contracts
– other financial related expenses of the
incident
• Monitors costs

20
 ICS Response Functions

Command The “Boss”

Operations The “Do-ers”
Planning The “Thinkers”
Logistics The “Getters”
Finance/ The “Payers”
Administration

21
 ICS Organization

Incident
Commander
Information
Safety
Liaison

Finance/
Operations Planning Logistics
Administration
Section Section Section
Section

Staging Area
Resources Support
Time Unit
Unit Branch
Branches Special
Operations
Situation Supply Unit Procurement
Divisions Branch Unit Unit
& Facilities Unit
Groups Documentation Compensation/
Unit Ground Support Claims Unit
Strike Teams Unit

Task Forces Demobilization Service Cost Unit

Unit
Branch
Single
Resources Communications
Unit

Food Unit

Medical Unit 22
2. Establishing Command

“Command at an incident is
initially established by the first
arriving authority at the scene.”

23
 2. Transfer Command

Reasons for transfer:

 more qualified person assumes
command
 jurisdictional or agency change
in command is legally required
or makes good management
sense
 normal turnover of personnel
on long or extended incidents

24
 3. Single Command

• Every incident will have an Incident

Commander
• The Incident Commander is
responsible for all incidents or
event activities

25
 3. Unified Command

A B B-ICS

A-ICS

C-ICS

26
 Unified Command

A B C
A B

One Incident Command

Post
One Operations Section
Chief
C
A single, coordinated
Incident Action Plan

27
4. Management by Objectives

Objectives:

 Attainable
 Measurable
 Flexible

28
Incident Management
by Objectives

ACHIEVE GOAL
4. Tactical Direction
3. Select Strategy
2. Establish Incident Objectives
1. Agency Policy and Direction

29
 5. Consolidated
Incident Action Plan

Every incident has one

Provides direction for future actions
Includes measurable tactical operations
One for each operational period

30
 Incident Action Plan

Essential Elements
Statement of objectives
Supporting
Organization Plans
Supporting
Plans
Assignments to Assignment List

accomplish objectives, Organization

Assignment
ICS 205
ICS 206

strategies & tactics Incident

Objectives
ICS 205
ICS 206

1... ICS 204

Supporting material 2...

3...
ICS 203

ICS 202

31
6. Comprehensive Resource
Management
Single Resource
Includes personnel & equipment

Strike Team
Combination of same kind & type

Task Force
Combination of single resources

32
7. Unity & Chain of Command

33
8. Manageable Span of Control

• number of subordinates that one supervisor

can manage effectively
• suggested range is 1:3 – 1:7
• Optimum is 1:5

34
 9. Modular Organization

IC
Info
Safety
Liaison
Finance
Operations Planning Logistics
Admin

Alpha Vent RIT RIT Delta

Division Group 1 2 Division

Team Team Team Team Team Team Team Team Team

35
10. Personnel Accountability

36
11. Common Terminology

Applied to:

Organizational elements
Position titles
Resources
Facilities

37
 Common Titles
Managerial Level
Incident Command
Command

Finance/ Section
Operations Planning Logistics
Administration Chiefs

Branch Branch Branch Branch Directors

Supervisors
Division Group

Single Resources Units within Planning,

Leaders
Task Forces Logistics & Finance/
Strike Teams Administration

38
Incident Facilities

• Incident Command Post

• Staging Area
• Base
• Camps
• Helibase
• Helispots

39
12. Integrated Communication

40
Communication Networks

Command net
Tactical nets
Support net
Ground-to-air
Air-to-air

41
 Common
ICS Responsibilities
 Receive incident assignment
 Bring specialized and personal supplies
 Check In
 Use clear text communications
 Obtain briefing from immediate supervisor
 Acquire necessary work materials
 Organize and brief any subordinates
 Brief relief
 Complete forms
42
 Summary

Think ICS even at the simplest of incidents.

If you think of the 5 functions
Command Operations Planning
Logistics Finance/Administration
at the start of an incident, the transition
from a small operation to a major event will be
much easier.

43
 Summary

• ICS requires only one position filled - the

Incident Commander (IC)
• IC fulfills all of the functional responsibilities
(boxes) until assigned to another person
• Each function (box) is filled only if and
when necessary.
• Think functions not people!

44
 Learning Assessment
For academic credit:
• Complete the exam provided with
each purchased copy of a JIBC
distance learning manual.
• Submit the answer sheet/exam and
student information form to the JIBC.
• Grade of 70% or higher is required to
obtain course credit.
45
 Closing

• Comments & Questions

• Additional resources found at:
www.myemresources.com
• For information on further training
please contact:
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Emergency Management Division
715 McBride Boulevard
New Westminster, BC V3L 5T4
www.jibc.ca/emergency
604.528.5790 emergency@jibc.ca 46