Who typically makes search assignments and designates a fire officer to be in charge of the search effort?

The individual responsible for making search assignments and designating a fire officer to oversee the search effort is the incident commander. This role is crucial during an emergency response as it involves overall management of the incident, ensuring that tasks such as search and rescue operations are coordinated effectively.

The incident commander makes these decisions based on the assessment of the situation, resources available, and the safety of personnel involved. By designating a fire officer to lead the search, the incident commander can focus on the broader operational strategies and ensure that all aspects of the incident are managed without compromising safety.

In this context, the incident commander is ultimately accountable for the actions taken on the scene, and delegating specific responsibilities—like those related to search assignments—helps in the efficient management of personnel and resources during an incident.