The Operations Section Chief establishes Divisions and Groups when:

The Operations Section Chief establishes Divisions and Groups when the number of resources exceeds manageable span of control. This is critical in incident management because effective leadership is contingent upon a manageable span of control, which typically ranges from three to seven subordinates per supervisor. When operations expand and involve numerous resources, it becomes essential to create Divisions and Groups to organize personnel and equipment into manageable units. This structure helps ensure that each group has a clear focus, improving coordination, accountability, and operational efficiency.

In situations where the complexity and scale of an incident increase, such as large fires or other emergencies, the Operations Section Chief must take proactive steps to maintain clarity and effectiveness in command. By establishing Divisions for geographical areas or Groups for specific functional areas, the Operations Chief can maintain a clear chain of command and enhance resource management.

Other scenarios presented may relate to specific incidents or requests, but they do not universally apply to the necessity of reorganization due to control limitations. This makes the option about exceeding the manageable span of control the most universally applicable reason for the establishment of Divisions and Groups.