Who is responsible for managing mutual aid agreements within the ICS?

The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for managing mutual aid agreements within the Incident Command System (ICS). This section handles all financial aspects related to incident response, which includes tracking costs, establishing agreements for resources provided by other agencies, and ensuring that proper documentation is in place for any mutual aid that occurs.

Effective management of mutual aid agreements is crucial, as these agreements often involve the sharing of resources and personnel between different jurisdictions and organizations during an incident. The Finance/Administration Section ensures that these agreements are adhered to financially, so that all parties involved are properly reimbursed or compensated for their contributions.

Each of the other sections in the ICS has specific roles; for instance, the Logistics Section focuses on acquiring, storing, and distributing resources and supplies. The Operations Section is responsible for carrying out the tactical objectives of the incident, while the Command Staff provides essential support and advice to the Incident Commander. However, managing the financial and administrative aspects of mutual aid directly falls under the responsibilities of the Finance/Administration Section.