Who’s in charge during an emergency response?
Every incident has an Incident Commander (IC)—the person responsible for managing the response. The IC is often the first CAL FIRE engine company officer on scene. They size up the incident, request resources, set objectives, and prioritize firefighter and public safety.
If the incident grows, a more experienced IC may take over. On major incidents, leadership can shift to a Unified Command—where CAL FIRE and other agencies (like local fire departments, sheriffs, or federal partners) share responsibility to ensure everyone is working together.
On large incidents, the IC can be supported by specialists in operations, planning, logistics, and finance. The entire team makes sure crews on the ground have the right resources, information, and support to keep the incident response organized.
The IC leads the strategy, keeps agencies coordinated, and guides the team working to protect lives, property and California’s natural resources.
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