ICS - The Incident Controller Function

Scope

This Operational Guideline covers how the Incident Control System (ICS) Incident Controller (IC) function should be applied by a field officer.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the first arriving unit/s is the IC, unless/until control is handed over to:
  • a more senior officer or a relieving officer;
  • an officer from the combat agency for the incident;
  • a person appointed under relevant legislation; or
  • a person in accordance with a relevant Bush Fire Operations Plan.
• The initial IC should assume control, announce their role to FireCom and subsequent crews, assess the incident, plan and approve the strategies to combat the incident, ensure the safety of all personnel, allocate tasks, report the situation, appropriately liaise with any supporting personnel/public/media, and manage the overall incident.
• If the incident expands or extends, the IC may appropriately delegate ICS functions, commencing with Operations. Where the incident scope goes beyond delegating the Operations function, the IC should look to conduct a changeover to an IC located away from the field. The new IC will review the existing Incident Action Plan (IAP) and supervise the Incident Management Team (IMT).
• When determining an Incident Control structure, refer to the following guidelines:
  • Level 1 – generally characterised by being able to be resolved through the use of local or initial response resources only.
  • Level 2 – may be more complex due to size, resources, risk, or consequence. They are characterised by the need for:
    • Deployment of resources beyond initial response; and/or
      • Sectorisation of the incident; and/or
      • The establishment of functional sections due to the levels of complexity.

Special Considerations

A formal hand-over/take-over procedure must be followed when an officer (including from another combat agency or jurisdictional authority), is taking over command or control of an incident. The hand-over/take-over procedure is to include a briefing, a formal statement of taking over (e.g., “I have control”), and advising the changeover to those immediately above and below in the chain of command.

Related Information

• AIIMS
• IMP 3.01 Incident Controller
• IMP 3.05 Operations Officer
• IMP 3.07 Planning Officer
• IMP 3.08 Logistics Officer
• RFS OPG - Command and Control
• RFS OPG - Incident Ground Organisation