Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Practice Test

True or False? The Incident Commander (IC) is responsible for all ICS management functions until they delegate the function.

1. True

2. False

3. Only for the first hour

4. During training exercises only

The correct answer is: True

The statement is true because the Incident Commander (IC) plays a central role in the Incident Command System (ICS) and is responsible for all management functions associated with incident response. This responsibility includes establishing objectives, managing resources, and coordinating the overall response strategy. The IC retains this accountability until they choose to delegate specific functions to other team members. In practice, while the IC may assign tasks and delegate authority to others, they remain ultimately responsible for the incident response until the incident is resolved or management authority is transferred to another designated individual. This ensures clear leadership and accountability throughout the incident management process, which is critical for effective decision-making and coordination of efforts within a team. Delegation does not absolve the IC of responsibility; it simply allows for efficient distribution of tasks while maintaining the overall command structure.