Who establishes the incident objectives that drive incident operations?

The establishment of incident objectives is a critical component of the Incident Command System as it provides the direction for all incident operations. These objectives are set by the Incident Commander or, in situations where multiple agencies are involved, by the Unified Command.

The Incident Commander holds overall responsibility for managing the incident and making strategic decisions, including defining what the objectives are that the team will aim to achieve. The objectives must be clear, achievable, and measurable, as they guide the actions of the entire incident response team. This ensures that all resources and efforts are coordinated towards a common goal, facilitating effective incident management and response strategies.

The other positions, such as the Operations Section Chief and the Planning Section Chief, support the Incident Commander by executing the strategies and ensuring resources are managed properly, but they do not set the objectives themselves. The Logistics Chief focuses on supporting operations through resources and support services rather than defining the objectives of the incident. Thus, the role of establishing objectives is specifically aligned with the Incident Commander or Unified Command, making it the correct choice.