S-130 Incident Command System 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ICS resource status refers to a resource that is assigned and working on a task?
- Available
- Assigned (Correct answer)
- Out of Service
- Staged
Correct answer: Assigned
Resources are tracked in three statuses: Available (ready for assignment), Assigned (working on a task), and Out of Service (unavailable due to rest, mechanical, or personnel issues).
Question 2: What is the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the ICS Command Staff?
- Coordinating with assisting and cooperating agencies
- Advising the Incident Commander on all safety matters
- Interfacing with the media and gathering/releasing incident information (Correct answer)
- Managing all incident communications and radio systems
Correct answer: Interfacing with the media and gathering/releasing incident information
The PIO is responsible for coordinating and releasing information about the incident to the news media, other agencies, and the public.
Question 3: Under ICS, a 'Task Force' is defined as:
- Any combination of resources assembled for a specific mission with common communications (Correct answer)
- A group of identical resources from the same agency
- A temporary unit created during the transition between operational periods
- A specialized team for high-risk tactical assignments
Correct answer: Any combination of resources assembled for a specific mission with common communications
A Task Force is any combination of mixed resources with common communications operating under the supervision of a Task Force Leader.
Question 4: What is a 'Strike Team' in ICS terminology?
- Any group of resources assigned to suppress a fire's head
- A set number of resources of the same kind with common communications and a leader (Correct answer)
- An elite crew used only on high-priority fire assignments
- A temporary team formed to address a specific hazard on the fireline
Correct answer: A set number of resources of the same kind with common communications and a leader
A Strike Team consists of a specified number of resources of the same kind and type operating under a single leader with common communications.
Question 5: Which ICS principle allows the system to expand or contract based on incident needs?
- Unity of command
- Comprehensive resource management
- Modular organization (Correct answer)
- Management by objectives
Correct answer: Modular organization
ICS is designed with a modular organization that allows the command structure to expand or contract as incident complexity changes.
Question 6: What information is contained in an ICS 201 (Incident Briefing) form?
- Personnel time records and cost summaries
- Situation summary, initial objectives, resource summary, and organizational structure (Correct answer)
- Radio frequencies, medical plans, and evacuation routes only
- Demobilization procedures for all assigned resources
Correct answer: Situation summary, initial objectives, resource summary, and organizational structure
The ICS 201 captures the initial incident situation, objectives, resources assigned, and organizational structure, and is used to brief incoming Incident Commanders.
Question 7: On a wildland fire, the Base is best described as:
- The primary tactical operations area where most suppression work occurs
- The location where primary logistics functions are coordinated and support is provided (Correct answer)
- A temporary facility for resource staging between operational periods
- The helicopter landing zone nearest to the fire perimeter
Correct answer: The location where primary logistics functions are coordinated and support is provided
The Base is the location from which primary logistics and administrative functions are coordinated and operated; there is only one Base per incident.
S-130 Incident Command System 4
Which ICS resource status refers to a resource that is assigned and working on a task?