One thing the ICS was not designed nor aver able to correct or overcome; politics and/or improper implementation. It is irritating when politics screws it up but then the unknowing blame the ICS for not being a viable system. Then again, people forget that the LFO couldn’t either.
I followed along most of the discussion on Zones and Sectors. FIRESCOPE has had the zone concept dialed in for a while, and I remember being on the “Biscuit Complex, Zone 3” back in 2002.
Zone – A defined geographic area or function utilized to support the management of an Incident (i.e., Area Command). A Zone may be assigned an Incident Management Team(s) or IC to provide management of a defined area or function. Zones may be identified geographically, numerically, or by functional name. (ICS 420-1.3, Managing Large Scale Incidents – Area Command, January 2020)
and…
A Zone is a tool that may be used in Area Command. A standardized Area Command implementation plan, and operating policies and procedures should be developed, fully integrated, understood, and exercised prior to implementation. Pre-incident planning, coordination, training, and exercises are defined as Preparedness Elements of NIMS.
Zone - A defined geographic area or function utilized to support the management of an Incident (i.e., Area Command). A Zone may be assigned an Incident Management Team(s) or IC to provide management of a defined area or function. Zones may be identified geographically, numerically, or by functional name. (FIRESCOPE FOG, 2017)
Many times I have seen zones used on incidents to break them up and place an IMT into a zone. I’d have to think when/if I have seen an IMT divide and manage multiple zones on it own within its own incident. The definition doesn’t seem to follow. Zone is used in the singular, not plural.
The use or search for an organizational construct for an IMT to assist in managing its own zone or area has been the hot topic lately. Sectors is one of those that has been introduced and actually implemented in the field. I have previously written about this in the “Cal Fire Use of Sectors” thread. As the DHS gets closer to the 5-year refresh cycle for NIMS, of which ICS is a part, I am hoping that the folks that have been asked to write up Sectors do that so I have some time to socialize the concept with the various agencies. It is something that needs to be documented so it can be discussed on the national level. Although possibly a heretical statement, I’d love to see a viable replacement for the two separate operation sections options as currently taught in I/ICS-400.
There is a fine line between an IMT field testing a concept or idea and practicing something that has gone off the rails or is a misapplication. When you add in politics, well, we have all three helping or gumming up the works right now.
Request: If you happen to see/hear/ or know of a possible best practice or new application, please PM me so we can discuss. I won’t bore the general audience with the details. But if very experienced operators see something, please say something. The only way to improve is to constantly look and assess and stay open to ideas.