Red Card Communication & Incident Command System (ICS) 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ICS Section is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident information?
- Logistics Section
- Operations Section
- Planning Section (Correct answer)
- Finance/Administration Section
Correct answer: Planning Section
The Planning Section gathers and analyzes situation information and produces the IAP and situation reports.
Question 2: When a wildland fire expands and additional resources are ordered, who authorizes those orders?
- Any crew boss on scene
- The Incident Commander or their designee (Correct answer)
- The state dispatcher without IC approval
- Individual crew members based on need
Correct answer: The Incident Commander or their designee
Resource ordering authority rests with the Incident Commander or whoever they formally delegate that responsibility to.
Question 3: What is the purpose of an 'operational period briefing' on a wildland fire?
- To introduce new crew members to each other
- To communicate the IAP and tactical assignments to all operational personnel (Correct answer)
- To document injuries from the previous shift
- To update fire weather forecasts for the public
Correct answer: To communicate the IAP and tactical assignments to all operational personnel
The operational period briefing ensures all personnel understand objectives, tactics, safety messages, and assignments for the upcoming shift.
Question 4: In ICS, 'Branches' are used when:
- The span of control at the Division level is too large
- Span of control under the Operations Section Chief exceeds manageable limits (Correct answer)
- The incident expands beyond state boundaries
- Weather conditions require special reporting
Correct answer: Span of control under the Operations Section Chief exceeds manageable limits
Branches are activated to keep the Operations Section Chief's span of control within manageable limits by grouping divisions or groups.
Question 5: Which of the following is a function of the Safety Officer on a wildland fire?
- Ordering fire suppression resources
- Monitoring hazardous conditions and recommending corrective actions to the IC (Correct answer)
- Maintaining personnel time records
- Coordinating air tanker drops
Correct answer: Monitoring hazardous conditions and recommending corrective actions to the IC
The Safety Officer identifies and mitigates hazards, advising the IC, but has authority to stop operations for imminent danger.
Question 6: On a wildland fire radio net, the phrase 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' signals:
- A request for a helicopter extraction
- A life-threatening emergency requiring immediate assistance (Correct answer)
- A weather update from the lookout
- An all-clear after a burnover is avoided
Correct answer: A life-threatening emergency requiring immediate assistance
MAYDAY is the universal distress call indicating a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate all-hands radio attention and response.
Question 7: What is the role of a 'Lookout' in the LCES safety system as it relates to communications?
- To relay supply orders from the IC to crews
- To maintain constant watch and communicate hazards to threatened crews (Correct answer)
- To operate the communications unit in the Logistics Section
- To document radio traffic in the IAP
Correct answer: To maintain constant watch and communicate hazards to threatened crews
The Lookout observes fire behavior and escape route conditions, immediately communicating any threats to personnel in the field.
Red Card Communication & Incident Command System (ICS) 5
Which ICS Section is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and displaying incident information?