What allows the incident commander to gather information for the development of strategic goals?

The process that enables the incident commander to gather crucial information for developing strategic goals is size up. Size up refers to the systematic assessment of the incident scene, which includes evaluating factors such as the type of incident, the conditions present, available resources, potential hazards, and the layout of the area involved. By conducting a thorough size up, the incident commander can make informed decisions about strategies and tactics that will be most effective in managing the incident.

This assessment provides real-time data that allows the commander to formulate a comprehensive understanding of the situation, which is essential for establishing priorities, resource allocation, and overall incident management. The insights gained from the size up inform not only the immediate response but also the strategic goals that will guide the response efforts throughout the incident.

While situational analysis, pre-incident plan review, and command briefing all play important roles in the broader context of incident management, size up specifically focuses on the current circumstances, making it the most critical action for developing strategic goals in real-time scenarios.