In ICS, who has the authority to make resource requests?

The Incident Commander has the authority to make resource requests because this role is central to the Incident Command System (ICS). The Incident Commander is responsible for the overall management of the incident, including strategy development, decision-making, and coordination of all incident activities. This individual assesses the situation, determines resource needs, and can authorize the procurement of additional resources as required to effectively manage the incident. The authority held by the Incident Commander ensures that resource requests align with the incident objectives and operational priorities.

While other section chiefs have critical roles within their respective areas, their authority to request resources is typically dependent on the direction and authorization from the Incident Commander. For instance, while the Logistics Section Chief manages logistics and supply chain activities, they do so under the framework established by the Incident Commander.