What is the primary role of an incident commander during an emergency?

The primary role of an incident commander during an emergency is to direct operations and make critical decisions. This individual is responsible for the overall management of the incident, which includes assessing the situation, establishing objectives, and determining the appropriate strategies to mitigate the emergency effectively. The incident commander ensures that resources are deployed efficiently, that safety protocols are adhered to, and that communication is maintained among all team members and agencies involved in the response.

While supervising firefighters is an important aspect of the incident commander's role, the emphasis is on directing operations and making decisions that impact the outcome of the incident. Additionally, enforcing adherence to protocols is part of the overall operational management, but focuses more on the execution of strategies rather than the direct oversight of protocol compliance. In terms of public relations, while communication with the community and stakeholders is important, it is typically handled by a designated public information officer, allowing the incident commander to concentrate on the tactical response to the emergency at hand.