Who provides the final approval for the Incident Action Plan?

The final approval for the Incident Action Plan (IAP) is the responsibility of the Incident Commander. This is integral to the Incident Command System as the Incident Commander holds the overall authority and accountability for incident management and strategic decision-making. By approving the IAP, the Incident Commander ensures that the plan aligns with the incident objectives and is feasible, considering the resources and tactical operations involved.

The Incident Action Plan itself is a critical document that outlines the incident objectives, operational strategies, tactics, and resource allocations for a specified period. To achieve effective incident management, all sections involved in the creation of the IAP, including the Planning Section Chief, collaborate and prepare the plan, but it requires the Incident Commander's signature and approval to put the plan into action.

The Safety Officer, while responsible for monitoring safety and ensuring the wellbeing of personnel, does not have the authority to approve the IAP. Instead, they advise on safety-related concerns within the plan. Similarly, the Operations Chief and the Planning Section Chief play vital roles in executing and formulating the IAP, but they ultimately report to the Incident Commander, who has the final say in the approval process.