An Incident Commander’s (IC) mission is to ensure that incidents are managed as effectively and safely as possible. Complex incidents are particularly challenging to manage because they often evolve rapidly, involve significant hazards, and/or require innovative solutions. Complex incidents require a response from multiple jurisdictions/agencies, each of which may have a unique perspective when arriving on-scene. To effectively manage these incidents, the diverse response partners must act collaboratively, and this requires ICs to rapidly bring their differing response priorities, objectives, and strategies into alignment. This course discusses how to overcome the unique challenges that complex incidents present. Topics include the need to rapidly recognize the incident’s magnitude and cooperate with other commanders, strategies for promoting interdisciplinary collaboration before an incident occurs, strategies for deconflicting competing priorities, how and when to establish a unified command, and how and when to transfer command.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to: 

• • Explain what initial steps leaders must take to effectively respond to an incident.
• • Apply strategies to resolve the challenges and conflicts that may arise when multiple disciplines are involved in an incident.•
• • Operate within a Unified Command (UC) structure to effectively respond to complex incidents.
• • Demonstrate an effective transfer of command and a Unified Command (UC) briefing.

Suggested Audience 

Disciplines include, but are not limited to:

• Law Enforcement
• Fire Service
• Emergency Medical Services
• 911 Dispatchers
• Emergency Management
• Public Health
• Public Works