What identifies incident priorities and objectives that dictate how tactical operations must be conducted?

• A. Size-up
• B. Pre-incident survey
• C. Incident action plan
• D. Incident strategy

Answer: (C)

This question tests how incident priorities and objectives are defined and used to guide what responders do. The Incidents Action Plan is the formal, coordinated document produced for each operational period that identifies the incident priorities (usually life safety first, then incident stabilization, then property conservation) and sets the objectives that must be achieved. It translates those priorities into concrete goals and assigns strategies and tactical tasks to reach them, while also outlining safety considerations, resource assignments, and communication plans. This plan is what directs how all actions are executed in the field and ensures everyone is working toward the same objectives with a clear timeframe.

Ongoing size-up is the continuous assessment of conditions to inform decisions, but it doesn’t formalize the priorities and objectives into a plan that guides actions. A pre-incident survey is a preplanning step done before an event to anticipate hazards, not the live document that dictates current tactics. Incident strategy refers to the overall approach used to achieve objectives, but the specific, written plan that communicates and directs those objectives and tasking is the incident action plan.