Which section of NIMS is primarily responsible for making operational decisions during an incident?

The Operations Section is primarily responsible for making operational decisions during an incident. This section is the heart of incident management, where strategies and tactics are executed to achieve the incident objectives. The Operations Section Chief oversees this process, ensuring that the operational resources are efficiently allocated to meet the immediate needs of the incident response.

In addition, this section focuses on the coordination and direction of all tactical activities, making real-time decisions based on the evolving situation on the ground. Its role is to implement the incident action plan and coordinate the response efforts, which ultimately leads to the effective containment and resolution of the incident.

While other sections, such as Logistics or Finance/Administration, support the operational aspects by providing necessary resources or managing financial aspects, it is the Operations Section that drives the action and makes critical decisions regarding how resources are used and coordinated in the field. The Planning Section, while vital for gathering and analyzing information, primarily focuses on developing plans and strategies rather than making decisions during the incident itself.