Who is responsible for deciding between offensive or defensive operations during a fire response?

The individual responsible for deciding between offensive or defensive operations during a fire response is the incident commander. This role involves assessing the situation on the ground, evaluating the risks, and determining the most effective strategy to combat the fire while ensuring the safety of personnel and the public.

The incident commander has the authority and knowledge necessary to make critical decisions based on the current conditions and incident objectives. They consider factors such as the fire's intensity, the structure's integrity, potential exposures, and resource availability when deciding whether to engage in offensive operations, which involve direct engagement with the fire, or defensive operations, aimed at protecting exposures and containing the fire without direct engagement.

In contrast, other roles such as the deputy chief might provide support and oversight, but the ultimate decision-making power in operational strategy lies with the incident commander. Similarly, the firefighter in charge typically oversees a specific crew or task rather than making overarching operational decisions, and the safety officer focuses on ensuring safety protocols are followed rather than strategy development. Thus, the incident commander is positioned to make these crucial operational decisions.