EMC008 - ICS Management - 1/2

ICS organizational structure develops in a modular fashion based on the kind and size of an incident. It builds from the TOP down with responsibility and performance placed initially with the Incident Commander. AS THE NEED EXISTS four separate sections 

CAN be developed, each with several units which MAY be established.

If one individual can simultaneously manage all major functional areas, no further organization is required. Positions that are not assigned/filled are functionally performed at the next higher level. If one or more of the areas requires independent management, a person is named to be responsible for that area.

The common ICS terminology and organizational function is shown by the following management standard:

Those assigned to manage at each level have a distinctive title:

• Incident Command = Incident Commander
  
• Command Staff = Officer
  
• Section = Section Chief 
  
• Branch = Branch Director (optional level)
  
• Division = Division Supervisor
  
• Unit = Unit Leader
  

In general, within the ICS, the span-of-control of any person with emergency management responsibility should range from three to seven, with a span-of-control of five as a general rule of thumb.

The ICS uses a unified command because:

1. Incidents have no regard for jurisdictional boundaries.
2. Individual agency responsibility and authority is usually legally confined to a single jurisdiction

The concept of a unified command means that all agencies who have a jurisdiction responsibility at a multi-jurisdictional incident contribute to the process of management of the incident. In our fire scenario the situation is rapidly developing into one that will require a unified command.

Next bulletin: ICS terminology