Who is responsible for relieving companies from fire or emergency duty?

The Incident Commander is responsible for relieving companies from fire or emergency duty as part of their role in managing operations at the incident scene. They oversee all aspects of the incident response, which includes assessing the resources needed, determining deployment strategies, and making decisions regarding crew rotations and rest periods to ensure the safety and effectiveness of personnel.

This role is critical because extended operations can lead to fatigue among firefighters, which can compromise their performance and safety. The Incident Commander must maintain a clear understanding of the operational needs and the capabilities of the teams involved. When a company completes its assigned tasks, the Incident Commander must evaluate the situation and make the decision to relieve that company to allow them to recover and return to readiness.

While the Fire Chief oversees the overall fire department and its policies, and the District Supervisor may manage specific sectors or areas, it is the Incident Commander's authority and responsibility to make real-time decisions regarding resource management at an active incident. The Safety Officer, on the other hand, primarily focuses on ensuring safety protocols are followed and does not have the authority to relieve crews from duty.