Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jacob Fouts on February 12, 2009 at 6:29pm

It's interesting that you bring this up because I have noticed with our training requirements, it is not required that our Chiefs maintain certification unless they are in the training division. In fact our Chief's EMT lapsed several years ago, and he is not required to recert. On the flip side, as a volunteer I am aware that anybody who has been through an ICS 100, 200, 700, 800 course can be an IC, they just need to have someone advise them as a division officer. Example: In our department on a swift water rescue, our command does not have to be from a swift water technician, in fact we prefer that it is not. The reason being is that we need the technicians to be doing the rescue. We simply need someone to take command who is competent in being an IC.

Permalink Reply by Firechief2411 on May 7, 2009 at 9:44am

Just remember one thing Chief Officers have the law on there side, and under the law they are presumed to have the required knowledge based on there rank and as long as they meet the State requirements for ICS command, its called “legitimate authority” and that’s how the ISC system runs, however there is also a prevision that says in certain types of situation the IC should yield to a person of higher authority or a higher certification to stabilize the situation only, then the IC can resume command. In my department a Chief officer must have ICS 100-200 and 300, also IML I and II. Dealing with a medical situation the squad has authority of the patient, but the fire IC has authority over the situation as long as there is an adherent risk for loss of life in situations where FD is called, but on squad only calls the EMS runs them.