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Organisation at an Incident – Levels of Command

This part of the guidance should be read in conjunction with the CFOA Command Training, Assessment and Qualifications Fire and Rescue Service Guidance. This provides details about the four nationally agreed levels of command qualification for fire service operations.

Levels of command

Level 1 - Initial

Command and control operations at a task focused supervisory level or a more senior level at a serious escalating incident.

Level 2 - Intermediate

Command and control operations at a tactical middle manager level or a more senior level for large or significant incidents.

Level 3 - Advanced

Tactical command at the largest and most serious incidents, either at the scene or at a remote location. There is a requirement for tactical co-ordination and of having reached the stage of using a developed command support and a full ICS structure.

Level 4 - Strategic

Strategic command associated with commanding within a Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG), or Regional Resilience Partnership (RRP) in Scotland.

At a multi-agency incident, different agencies may use three levels of command and control. These are Operational, Tactical and Strategic. They relate to roles not rank. The titles do not show seniority, they show the function of that person or group. Some organisations still use the terms Bronze, Silver and Gold instead of Operational, Tactical and Strategic.
  • Operational(Bronze)
  • Tactical (Silver)
  • Strategic (Gold)

It is important that officers understand the levels of command and can be flexible in using them.