The overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident lies with the Incident Commander (IC). The IC is a senior-level official who coordinates the activities of all responders, including firefighters, police, and medical personnel, to bring the incident under control quickly and safely
. The IC has authority to make decisions on resource deployment, evacuation, and containment of the incident
. Key responsibilities of the Incident Commander include:
- Establishing immediate priorities, with life safety as the top priority for people involved, responders, and bystanders
- Stabilizing the incident and managing resources efficiently
- Developing incident objectives and strategy and approving the Incident Action Plan
- Coordinating communication and liaison with other agencies and the public
- Ensuring safety measures are in place and assigning roles such as Safety Officer if needed
- Maintaining command and control of on-scene emergency operations throughout the incident
The Incident Commander may be supported by deputies and command staff but retains overall command responsibility until the incident is resolved or command is transferred to another qualified individual
. In summary, the Incident Commander has overall responsibility for managing the on-scene incident, directing tactical and operational activities, ensuring safety, and coordinating multi-agency response efforts
