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Incident Commander Complex

ICCI decorative banner: photos depicting ICCI position. ICCI Position Description: The Incident Commander (ICCI) is responsible for all incident activities.

The Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) is responsible for all aspects of emergency response, including developing incident objectives, managing incident operations, setting priorities, defining the organization of the incident management team, and the overall Incident Action Plan (IAP). The ICCI also has responsibility for ensuring incident safety and establishing and maintaining liaison with other agencies and stakeholders participating in the incident. The ICCI supervises all Command and General Staff (C&G) positions and reports to the Agency Administrator (AA).

USWDS Paragraphs

Incident Commander (ICT5) Safety Officer (SOFC) Safety Officer (SOF3) Liaison Officer (LOFR) Incident Commander (ICT4) Incident Commander (ICT3) Public Information Officer (PIO3) Agency Representative (AREP) Public Information Officer, Technician (PIOT) Incident Commander (ICCI) Public Information Officer (PIOC) Safety Officer (SOFF) Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF)

 

The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to states under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2026

Added:

Required Experience

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) AND completion of positions task book
  • Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) has been added to “ICCI Maintains Currency for these Positions”

Removed:

Required Experience

  • Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), or Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2), or Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2), or Logistics Section Chief Type 2 (LSC2), or Safety Officer Type 2, or Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 (FSC2)
  • Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) removed from the combined experience for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC), Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC), Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) and Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1), FSC2, Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1), ICT2, Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1), LSC2, Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1), OSC2, Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1), PSC2, Safety Officer Type 1(SOF1), Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2) removed from “Maintains Currency for ICCI”
  • FSC1, FSC2, ICT1, ICT2, LSC1, LSC2, OSC1, OSC2, SOF1, SOF2 removed from “ICCI Maintains Currency for these Positions”
Date: Jan 2025

Removed: X-520, NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form

Date: Jan 2024

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added:

To ICCI Qualification Requirements:

  • ***S-420, Command and General Staff or L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff or O-305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team, and I-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, must be completed before initiating the NWCG Incident Commander Complex, Position Task Book, PMS 311-101.

To Required Training: 

  • OR a completed X-520, NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form (PDF)
Date: Jan 2023

Added: 

To Required Training:

  • ICS-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff
  • S-420, Command and General Staff OR L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff OR 0305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team  

To Required Experience:

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • AND Satisfactory performance as an Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) Position Task Book, PMS 311-101

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • AND Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) Position Task Book, PMS 311-101

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • AND Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) Position Task Book, PMS 311-101

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • AND Satisfactory performance as a Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) Position Task Book, PMS 311-101

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • AND Satisfactory performance as a Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Incident Commander Complex (ICCI) Position Task Book, PMS 311-101

To These Positions Maintain Currency For ICCI:

  • Area Commander (ACDR)
  • Assistant Area Commander Logistics (ACLC)
  • Assistant Area Commander Planning (ACPC)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 (FSC2)
  • Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1)
  • Logistics Section Chief Type 2 (LSC2)
  • Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2)
  • Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
  • Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1)
  • Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2)

To ICCI Maintains Currency For These Positions:

  • Agency Representative (AREP)
  • Area Commander (ACDR)
  • Assistant Area Commander Logistics (ACLC)
  • Assistant Area Commander Planning (ACPC)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1)
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 (FSC2)
  • Liaison Officer (LOFR)
  • Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • Logistics Section Chief Type 1 (LSC1)
  • Logistics Section Chief Type 2 (LSC2)
  • Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3)
  • Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
  • Safety Officer Type 1 (SOF1)
  • Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2)

To Other Training Which Supports Development Of Knowledge And Skills:

  • E/L 950, All-Hazards Position Specific Incident Commander
  • L-480, Organizational Leadership in the Fire Service
  • L-580, Leadership is Action
Date: May 2022

Added: Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC)  to "These Positions Maintain Currency For ICCI" and "ICCI Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Position created.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Incident and Position Standards Committee
Steward: Incident Command Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-231, Engine Boss Course Available Now

Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) incident qualifications. 

This is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of ENGB responsibilities during wildland fire operations, emphasizing readiness, information gathering, risk management, engine tactics, and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) operations. Trainees apply these skills through scenario-based group work and an optional field day that reinforces hands-on engine operation tasks. 

References:

S-231, Engine Boss (Single Resource) (Instructor-led)

NWCG Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NWCG Celebrates 50 Years!

Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Executive Secretary

NWCG is proud to celebrate 50 years of service to the wildland fire community. Beginning in 1976 with an interagency agreement between the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture, NWCG has grown to include additional member agencies and is recognized as the standard-setting leader in wildland fire operations.

To honor where we’ve been and highlight where we are going, the NWCG team has created a video showcasing our history and accomplishments. The video is now available on the NWCG website.

References:

NWCG 50 Year Anniversary Video

NEW! S-131, Firefighter Type 1 Course Available Now

Date:  March 6, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new S-131, Firefighter Type 1 course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this course is a performance-based instructor-led training (ILT) that focuses on the application of situational awareness and decision making, building on the knowledge and concepts introduced in previous required courses. Using a threaded fictitious fire, each unit focuses on a performance-based activity in which students practice applying their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The S-131, Firefighter Type 1 course is required for individuals seeking qualifications to be a Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1) or an Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5).

References:

S-131, Firefighter Type 1 (Instructor-led)

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) Position Page

NWCG Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

2026 Professional Reading List

Date: March 4, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: WFLDP Curriculum Management

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) is announcing the 2026 Professional Reading List.  The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the selected books throughout the year. 

The six books chosen for this year are: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink; Meditations by Marcus Aurelious; Quiet by Susan Cain; The Little Book of Stoic Quotes by Phil Van Treuren; and The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program