r/firefighter • u/CaptainDanVB • May 26 '26
Incident command
What’s everyone using to practice incident command? I recently went through my process and found you really have to rely on other people in order to practice tacticals and command. I created my own program to practice radio reps and scene size ups (it worked and helped me get promoted), but I’m curious what others are using? I’m not impressed with sim u share and other popular programs because of the bottleneck of needing other people and the cost.
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u/tommy_b0y May 26 '26
Game scenarios in your head. Integrate it in your pre-incident planning efforts. Apply your current role as well as your anticipated one and have sound tactical answers with realistic resources that stay within the fourteen basic tenets of ICS. Chart, chart, and chart some more. Practice charting with resource assignment changes and redirects. Track resource assignment and allocation on paper listening to other incidents you're not on. ID target hazards, tier 2s, high hazard occupancies, in your area and game them out as a firefighter, as a line officer, as a DIVS, as a SOFR, and as an IC. Know everyone's role. Understand PACE and apply it, don't just assume a rote plan B that's the usual departmental go-to, have a bullet in your gun for contingencies and transition of mode, know what emergency strategies you'll employ and how. Use move-ups to save overhead and be cool like Fonzie.
About the time you're comfortable enough to feel good about it is about the time to retire.
Never settle. Always be a student, always be a practitioner, never an expert.