1IMS Chapter 4

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Unified Command: Unit 4

Presented by Zone 3 Training Officers

“The people that make it happen”

2IMS Chapter 4

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Lesson Objectives

The student will be able to identify command procedures to include:

When to use a single command

When to use a unified command

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Preparation

4IMS Chapter 4

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Lesson Overview

Command—single and unified

Single command—incident commander

Unified command—incident commander

Single/unified command difference

Summary

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Command—Single and Unified

The incident management system may be conducted in two general ways:

Single command

Unified command

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Single Command—Incident Commander

Within a jurisdiction in which an incident occurs and when there is no overlap of jurisdictional boundaries involved.

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Single Command—Incident Commander (Continued)

Strategy

+

Objectives

=

Action plan

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Single incident command structure

Single Command—Incident Commander (Continued)

Fire attack

E-1

Vent Search

L-1 E-2

E-1 Officer

Incident Commander objectives

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A unified command structure may be called under the following conditions:

• Single jurisdiction with more than one department or agency sharing management responsibility.

• The incident is multi-jurisdictional in nature, i.e., a major flood.

Unified Command—Incident Commander

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Unified Command StructureMulti-department

Fire Department • FAA Department • Forest Service

(Same jurisdiction)

Objectives

Unified Command—Incident Commander (Continued)

(Functional Areas)

Command Staff

Operations

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Unified Command StructureMulti-jurisdictional

Agency A • Agency B • Agency C

(Different jurisdictions)

Objectives

Command Staff

Unified Command—Incident Commander (Continued)

(Functional Areas)

A

BCOperations Section Chief

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Single/Unified Command Differences

In a Single Command structure, the IC isresponsible to:

Establish strategies

Determine objectives

Establish overall management plan associated with the incident

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Single/Unified Command Differences(Continued)

In a Unified Command structure, the individuals designated by their jurisdictions,or departments within a single jurisdiction,must jointly determine:

Strategy

Objectives

Priorities and the overall management structure needed

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Single/Unified Command Differences(Continued)

As in a Single Command structure, the Operations Section Chief has the responsibility for implementation of the plan.

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Single/Unified Command Differences(Continued)

The Unified Command determines which agency or department representative will be the Operations Section Chief. The decision may be based upon the agency with the:

Greatest jurisdictional involvement

Number of resources involved

Existing statutory authority

The decision may also be based on mutual knowledge of the individual’s qualifications.

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Summary

We have discussed— IMS as it relates to structural fire fighting. Command procedures with an overview of the

roles and responsibilities of command. The small incident where the IC retains all

functions of command. The large incident which expands and

implements divisions, branches, operations, logistics, planning, and finance.

Single and unified command.

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Summary (Continued)

The IMS is a system designed to manage the resources you need to mitigate the incident.

It can be used on the simple, single resource alarm, as well as a large, multiple alarm incident.

It is a tool box of tools for the IC to use in managing the incident.

Use part of the system, or use it all, to let the incident dictate how far out you expand the system.