What position in the incident command system must be filled at every incident?

The role of Incident Commander is essential at every incident because this individual has the overall responsibility for managing the incident’s response. The Incident Commander establishes objectives, develops strategies to achieve those objectives, and allocates resources as necessary to mitigate the situation effectively. This position provides clear leadership and coordination for all responders and ensures that operations are conducted safely and effectively.

While other roles like the Safety Officer and various section chiefs (such as Operations and Planning) play critical roles in specific scenarios, their positions are not universally required at every incident. The Incident Commander is the foundational role in the incident command system, ensuring that there is always someone accountable for making decisions and directing the response efforts from the beginning to the end of an incident.