In the incident command system, a fire officer has key responsibilities at three levels of command- strategic, tactical, and task. At the strategic level, the fire officer (often serving as the incident commander) is responsible for setting overall incident priorities, developing the action plan, and ensuring life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation. At the tactical level, the officer manages specific operational objectives by overseeing groups or divisions, allocating resources, and ensuring objectives align with the strategic plan. At the task level, the fire officer directly supervises crews performing hands on tasks such as fire suppression, search and rescue, or ventilation. Effective communication accountability, and safety are essential at all levels.

I could not have said it better myself Shadoin. This summary accurately captures the fire officer’s responsibilities across all three ICS levels. Strategic oversight ensures that overall priorities, resource allocation, and safety goals guide the incident. Tactical command translates these strategies into actionable assignments for divisions or groups, maintaining alignment with the incident plan. At the task level, direct supervision of crews ensures that operational objectives—fire suppression, search and rescue, ventilation—are executed safely and efficiently. Accountability, clear communication, and safety remain critical throughout all levels.