Fire Incident Management Checklist

Master fire incident management with our comprehensive checklist. Ensure swift response, coordination, and safety measures during emergencies with our preplanning resources

A fire incident management system, or incident command, is an organized system that provides management guidelines for responding to and operating at disasters and emergencies of various sizes.¹

The Importance of Fire Incident Management

The necessity for fire incident management became evident in the 1970’s as wildfires increasingly strained California’s resources. During this time, agencies began collaborating, but the lack of clear guidelines led to confusion and competition among them for supplies and equipment. Other issues surfaced during this period, including uncertainty about who would lead the incident and the absence of a clear chain of command, common terminology, communication system, and no established method for allocating resources.¹ These challenges resulted in a lack of situational awareness and comprised firefighter safety during incident responses.

Fire incident management was created as a solution to address these issues. It is designed to equip fire service members with a uniform set of processes and procedures to conduct response operations to incidents of all sizes.²

Fire Incident Management Checklist

The Western Fire Chief’s Association (WFCA) has provided the following checklist. It’s important to note that a fire incident management checklist should be tailored to include procedures specific to your organization. This material outlines high-level tasks to consider if you are in threat or response mode. WFCA offers this as a public service.³

Fire Incident Command Checklist

• Start Incident Log
  • Establish an incident log to systematically document all pertinent information and actions throughout the fire incident, facilitating a chronological record for post-incident analysis. Ensure comprehensive documentation of key details including incident start time, interventions, and notable developments.

• Confirm Incident Location
  • This task is essential for accurately identifying and addressing the incident. Challenges may arise in determining the location, particularly in large area fires or remote locations. In such cases, utilize GPS coordinates or landmarks to pinpoint the incident location. Necessary resources include maps and GPS devices.

• Establish Incident Command
  • Establishing Incident Command designates a central post and appoints an Incident Commander to lead response efforts, ensuring clear communication and coordinated roles among all responders. Regular updates and briefings keep personnel informed and focused on executing the response plan efficiently.
• Gather Initial Incident Details
  • Gathering initial information about the fire incident is crucial for gaining insights into the situation, aiding in informed decision-making and resource allocation.
• Classify Incident
  • Classify the fire incident according to severity and characteristics to prioritize resource allocation and devise an appropriate response strategy.
• Develop Incident Action Plan (IAP)
  • This plan is to guide response operations, outlining strategies and objectives for mitigating the fire incident. Regularly review and update the IAP to adapt to changing conditions.
• Allocate Resources
  • Allocate essential resources efficiently to respond to the fire incident, prioritizing based on severity and availability while considering challenges like limited resources during concurrent incidents. Adjust resource allocation to prioritize incidents based on urgency and mitigation potential.
• Communicate with On-Site Staff
  • Ensure continuous communication with incident responders to maintain situational awareness and foster teamwork, addressing challenges and facilitating coordination. Utilize regular briefings, debriefings, and check-ins to maintain open lines of communication, overcoming barriers in large incident areas by deploying additional communication personnel or technology as needed.
• Supervise Incident Response
  • Oversee the entire incident response to ensure the incident action plan is effectively executed, monitoring progress, providing guidance, and addressing emerging challenges. Proactively evaluate response activities and adjust strategies as required to maintain situational awareness, especially during dynamic incidents.
• Evaluate Response Effectiveness
  • Evaluate response effectiveness to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, supporting continuous learning and enhancing future capabilities.

Fire Preplanning Resources

Fire preplanning is a combined effort between emergency services personnel and property occupants or owners. Whether you are a citizen living in a fire prone area or a fire service member, explore the resources below for guidance on fire preplanning:

Pre-Fire Planning Q&A

Advanced Pre-Planning for Complex Properties

Planning Resources for Fire and EMS

Pre-Incident Planning Software

Fire Preplanning Articles

Be prepared before disaster strikes. Explore further fire preplanning articles provided by WFCA to learn more about fundamental preparedness and structured framework for managing potential fire risks. Our fire preplan articles cover a spectrum of crucial areas:

Innovative Fire Technology: Smart Firefighter Helmet | WFCA

What is Community Risk Assessment? | WFCA

Effective Fire Hazard Mitigation | WFCA