What type of incident requires a unified command?

Unified command is necessary in incidents with multiple jurisdictions because these situations often involve various agencies that may have different objectives, protocols, and resources. In order to effectively manage the incident and ensure cooperation among the involved entities, a unified command structure is established. This framework enables all participating organizations to work towards a common goal while maintaining clear lines of communication and coordination.

When multiple jurisdictions are involved, challenges such as overlapping responsibilities, resource allocation, and communication barriers can arise. A unified command helps to mitigate these issues by bringing together representatives from each participating agency to collaboratively develop an incident action plan that addresses the needs of the incident as a whole.

In contrast, incidents involving a single agency do not typically require the complexities that come with unified command, as the agency can manage the situation independently. Similarly, obstruction fires and routine fire alarm activations are usually handled at the local level and do not necessitate coordination among multiple jurisdictions.