The Incident Command System (ICS) is a scalable, standardised, cost effective and organisationally flexible model for emergency services organisations to use when responding to and coordinating a major incident. The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for the overall plan that is employed at an incident to bring the situation under control.

In ours and many groups this is designated by a white helmet and white vest with “IC” on it.

Part of the function of Command is the authority and responsibility of an officer to direct the actions of the organisation’s resources (both personnel and equipment).

The line or chain of command at an incident is known as the Command Line which should be a single unified line.

We recommend that ERT SAR Members take the ICS 100 courses online.

There are many free and paid versions of this online.

ERT SAR Command Support Officers on an Incident.

With the exception of urgent safety related issues officers should not take control of operations outside their assigned responsibility and should ensure all information and instruction is passed via the relevant command line officers.

At this point it is a balance between collective agreements of decisions into actions but in the field it is also not a democracy. The leaders, with similar respected training and experience would be trusted to get on with the task and make decisions accordingly which are then followed through by operators as actions. No doubt there is always room for second guessing but now is the time for immediate decisive action.

The Commanders will be supported by Command Support Officers. This role typically provides recording, liaison, detailed resource management and information gathering for the Incident Commander (IC).

The Command Support is a role undertaken by one or more staff at an incident. At large incidents Command Support may comprise a dedicated team working from a mobile command unit and may include individuals tasked with supporting Sector Commanders. A good command support team are not just ‘runners’ but add huge value as an invaluable function within the ICS (Incident Command System). There are many roles and functions within an Incident Command System (ICS) and different responders may have different important functions held by their teams. For example, they may all have an Incident Commander but the Ambulance “Bronze Medic” may be speaking to the Fire and Rescue “BA Officer” or “Safety Officer.”

The Incident Command System clearly designates the responsibilities for various personnel while involved at an emergency incident. Based on the strategic plan, the Incident Commander will assign Officers with the responsibility for various tactical objectives, which need to be successfully achieved, in order to mitigate the cause and consequences of the emergency incident.

These tactical objectives are achieved through the actions of those personnel assigned the operational / task level activities. The Incident Commander will need to apply the principles to the situation and adapt the generic plans and systems, in the light of the specific features of risks presented by the incident, and the resources available to deal with those risks.

The IC may designate Sector Commanders or Operations Commanders under her span of control. These may also task functional or leadership roles including Safety Officers. This can be adapted for any major incident. Our team employed a similar chain of command our major incidents, like the flooding in England; used below where Sector Commanders were ostensibly Coxswains / Team Leaders in a team of 3 or 4 on boats in areas of responsibility.

PICTURE: Using a Water Rescue incident as an example, here is a sample template graphic of our teams ICS (Incident Command System) during one day of our week deployment during the floods. The great thing is it is scalable. One day we have 26 members and on this day we had about 10 to 12.

Cordon Control

When considering control of the incident ground, the Incident Commander will, in particular, consider the need to maintain the safety of the public, as well as emergency responders. Cordons may be introduced as a method of controlling resources and maintaining safety. There are two types of cordons that may be used, inner and outer. The team on the ‘inner’ needs to be lean and essential and in the ‘outer’ other roles employed such as ‘Marshalling’ Officers to direct arriving vehicles.

There are forms that go with this set up.

We have used the downloadable generic ICS forms from the Justice Institute of BC