This course is designed to help the student recognize the importance of an effective overall incident management system and understand the various components that provide the basis for that system. Students will understand the need for an organized approach to managing emergency incidents and
the need for agencies to work together. Fire departments may currently have a chain of command and designate incident commanders but not have the knowledge to fully utilize an incident command system.

Many other agencies besides fire agencies will be adopting the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This is not a new emergency incident management system, but rather, the
reinforcement and expansion of the present Incident Command System (ICS) that is used by fire and emergency services. With DHS assistance in providing and mandating a single ICS, this Nation's emergency response personnel will move in the
direction of greater management harmony, which will ensure the effective management of America's major emergencies.