During an emergency response, who is responsible for overall incident management?

The Incident Commander holds the responsibility for overall incident management during an emergency response. This role is critical as the Incident Commander is the individual in charge of all aspects of the incident, including strategy, resource allocation, and ensuring that the incident objectives are met. The Incident Commander assesses the situation, develops an incident action plan, and coordinates with various teams and agencies involved in the response.

This role is essential for maintaining the chain of command and ensuring seamless communication among all responding units. The Incident Commander must also be able to quickly adapt to changing situations and make decisions that align with safety protocols, incident objectives, and resource needs, which are vital for effective incident management.

In contrast, the Logistics Officer is responsible for managing resources and support services; the Safety Officer focuses on identifying and mitigating hazards in the operational environment; and the Operations Chief supervises the tactical operations on the ground but reports to the Incident Commander. All these roles work under the direction of the Incident Commander, who retains the overall authority during an emergency situation.