What is the primary function of an Incident Commander?

The primary function of an Incident Commander is to oversee overall strategy and operations during an incident, such as a fire or rescue operation. This role involves establishing the incident command structure, assessing the situation, determining priorities, and coordinating the resources and personnel to effectively manage the scene. The Incident Commander is responsible for making critical decisions that impact the effectiveness of the response and ensuring the safety of both the responders and civilians involved.

This involves not just tactical decisions about how to combat the fire, but also strategic planning about resource allocation, evacuation procedures, and communication with other agencies or departments. The Incident Commander must maintain a comprehensive view of the entire incident scene to ensure that operations run smoothly and objectives are met in a timely manner.