Who will usually be the initial Incident Commander at most incidents?

The first arriving officer typically assumes the role of the Incident Commander at most incidents. This person is in the best position to assess the situation immediately upon arrival and can quickly begin to establish command and initiate an effective response. The urgency of incident management requires someone on the scene to take charge, make decisions, and coordinate activities amongst responding units.

The ability of the first arriving officer to make critical assessments—such as determining the nature of the incident, estimating the resources needed, and communicating with other units—makes them the most suitable choice for this role until a higher-ranking officer arrives, if required. Their initial size-up and command decisions can significantly impact the overall effectiveness and safety of the incident response, demonstrating the importance of their position.

While others, such as a senior firefighter, a station lieutenant, or an incident safety officer, play critical roles in broader incident management, the first arriving officer is uniquely positioned to take immediate control and set the direction for the response efforts early in the incident.