At what levels of the incident organization are Deputies utilized?

Deputies are utilized at the Section and Branch levels within the incident organization. The role of a Deputy is to support the Incident Commander or Section Chief in managing the various aspects of the incident operation. At the Section level, Deputies assist in overseeing major functional areas such as Operations, Logistics, Planning, and Finance. Their presence helps ensure effective communication and coordination throughout the incident response.

At the Branch level, which falls under the command of a Section Chief, deputies help manage multiple Divisions or Groups, providing additional oversight and leadership as the complexity of the incident increases. This hierarchical structure allows for effective command and control, ensuring that each Deputy can focus on specific operational tasks while maintaining a unified response strategy.

Utilizing Deputies at these levels enhances situational awareness, improves decision-making processes, and facilitates the delegation of responsibilities, ultimately leading to a more organized and efficient incident management system.