Incident Action Plan

What Is Incident Action Plan?

An Incident Action Plan (IAP) is a formal oral or written plan under NIMS ICS that specifies the incident objectives, operational tactics, organization assignments, risk management steps, communication plan (ICS 205), and medical plan (ICS 206) for a designated operational period.

Why Incident Action Plan Matters on the Fireground

On large, complex scenes (multi-alarm fires, hazmat spills, search operations), uncoordinated action leads to chaos and safety lapses. An IAP ensures all companies, divisions, and mutual aid agencies work toward identical strategic goals during each shift.

Relevant NFPA Standards

• NFPA 1010: Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters
• NFPA 1550: Standard for Emergency Responder Health and Safety

Field Procedures & Tactical Steps

1. Formulate initial tactical objectives (LIP: Life Safety, Incident Stabilization, Property Conservation) upon command arrival.
2. Fill out ICS Form 201 (Incident Briefing) for initial response organization and map sketching.
3. Conduct operational planning meeting to establish goals for the next operational period (typically 12 or 24 hours).
4. Publish the formal written IAP containing ICS 202 (Objectives), ICS 203 (Organization), ICS 204 (Assignments), ICS 205 (Comms), and ICS 206 (Medical).
5. Distribute IAP to all Division/Group supervisors and conduct pre-shift operational briefings before tactical execution.

Common Context & Application

Developed orally for short initial operations and formally written (using ICS forms 201-208) for extended or multi-agency incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions about Incident Action Plan