Chapter 5 Incident Command System
(ICS) Questions and Answers.
Staging Area - Answer A location close to the incident scene where a number of units can be
held in reserve, ready to be assigned if needed
Task force - Answer Includes two to five single resources, such as different types of units
assembled to accomplish a specific task
Safety Officer - Answer Position responsible for identifying and evaluating hazards or unsafe
conditions at an incident
Branch - Answer A supervisory level established to manage the span of control above the
division, or group, level
Transfer of Command - Answer Occurs when one person relinquishes command to another
individual
Single Command - Answer The most traditional perception of the Command function; the
genesis of the term incident commander
Division - Answer Usually refers to companies and/or crews working in the same geographic
area
Crew - Answer An organized group of firefighters, working without an apparatus, under the
leadership of a company officer
Company officer - Answer The officer in charge of a fire department company
Group - Answer Usually refers to companies and/or crews working on the same task or
function
Liaison Officer - Answer The incident commander's (IC's) representative and the position
responsible for exchanging information with outside agencies or directing people to the proper
authority is the
Branch Director - Answer A person in a supervisory level position in either the operations or
logistics function to provide a span of control. (NFPA 1561)
(ICS) Questions and Answers.
Staging Area - Answer A location close to the incident scene where a number of units can be
held in reserve, ready to be assigned if needed
Task force - Answer Includes two to five single resources, such as different types of units
assembled to accomplish a specific task
Safety Officer - Answer Position responsible for identifying and evaluating hazards or unsafe
conditions at an incident
Branch - Answer A supervisory level established to manage the span of control above the
division, or group, level
Transfer of Command - Answer Occurs when one person relinquishes command to another
individual
Single Command - Answer The most traditional perception of the Command function; the
genesis of the term incident commander
Division - Answer Usually refers to companies and/or crews working in the same geographic
area
Crew - Answer An organized group of firefighters, working without an apparatus, under the
leadership of a company officer
Company officer - Answer The officer in charge of a fire department company
Group - Answer Usually refers to companies and/or crews working on the same task or
function
Liaison Officer - Answer The incident commander's (IC's) representative and the position
responsible for exchanging information with outside agencies or directing people to the proper
authority is the
Branch Director - Answer A person in a supervisory level position in either the operations or
logistics function to provide a span of control. (NFPA 1561)
