What are inserted between the Operations Section Chief and Divisions when the number of Divisions exceeds a manageable span of control?

When the number of Divisions exceeds a manageable span of control, Branches are inserted between the Operations Section Chief and the Divisions. The concept of span of control is key in incident management because it refers to the number of subordinates that a supervisor can effectively manage. As the complexity and scale of an incident increase, the need for efficient organization becomes critical.

Branching helps to maintain an effective structure by providing a level of oversight that ensures each Division can operate under a manageable number of resources and personnel. Branches oversee multiple Divisions, allowing the Operations Section Chief to maintain effective supervision without being overwhelmed by too many direct reports.

This hierarchical structure is in accordance with the Incident Command System (ICS), which is designed to provide clear lines of authority and ensure that each function can operate efficiently. By organizing into Branches, the incident management can remain streamlined and focused, ultimately leading to more effective incident response.