CFPS Emergency Response Organization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NIMS, which Incident Command System section is responsible for managing tactical operations at an incident?
- Finance/Administration Section
- Logistics Section
- Operations Section (Correct answer)
- Planning Section
Correct answer: Operations Section
The Operations Section directs all tactical activities to reduce immediate hazards, save lives and property, establish situational control, and restore normal operations.
Question 2: A mutual aid agreement between neighboring jurisdictions for fire emergency response is BEST described as:
- An informal verbal understanding between fire chiefs
- A legally binding contract outlining resource-sharing during emergencies (Correct answer)
- A federal mandate requiring all jurisdictions to share resources
- A unilateral commitment by one agency to assist another
Correct answer: A legally binding contract outlining resource-sharing during emergencies
Mutual aid agreements are formal, legally binding contracts that establish the terms and conditions under which one jurisdiction will provide resources to another during emergencies.
Question 3: Which NIMS component establishes a standardized approach to incident management, applicable at all jurisdictional levels across all hazards?
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
- Incident Command System (ICS) (Correct answer)
- National Response Framework (NRF)
- Emergency Alert System (EAS)
Correct answer: Incident Command System (ICS)
ICS is the standardized on-scene emergency management system specifically designed to allow its user(s) to adopt an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents.
Question 4: In an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the primary function is to:
- Direct tactical firefighting operations at the incident scene
- Coordinate resources and policy decisions in support of incident command (Correct answer)
- Replace the Incident Commander when incidents become large-scale
- Serve as the central media briefing location for the public
Correct answer: Coordinate resources and policy decisions in support of incident command
The EOC provides multiagency coordination and executive-level policy and resource support to incident command without overriding on-scene authority.
Question 5: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requires employers to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for facilities with how many or more employees?
- 5
- 10 (Correct answer)
- 15
- 20
Correct answer: 10
OSHA requires a written Emergency Action Plan for facilities with 10 or more employees; facilities with fewer than 10 may communicate the plan orally.
Question 6: Which span of control ratio is considered optimal within the Incident Command System for effective supervision?
- 1:2 to 1:4
- 1:3 to 1:7 (Correct answer)
- 1:5 to 1:10
- 1:8 to 1:12
Correct answer: 1:3 to 1:7
ICS guidelines specify an optimal supervisory span of control of one supervisor to five subordinates, with an acceptable range of 1:3 to 1:7.
Question 7: An accountability system in emergency response is used PRIMARILY to:
- Track property losses during an incident
- Ensure all personnel are accounted for at all times on the incident scene (Correct answer)
- Monitor the chain of custody for evidence collected at fire scenes
- Document overtime hours for personnel cost recovery
Correct answer: Ensure all personnel are accounted for at all times on the incident scene
Personnel accountability systems track the location and assignment of all responders to enhance safety and enable rapid personnel accountability reporting (PAR).
CFPS Emergency Response Organization 2
Under NIMS, which Incident Command System section is responsible for managing tactical operations at an incident?