Which option correctly matches the five major ICS sections with their primary responsibilities?

Which option correctly matches the five major ICS sections with their primary responsibilities?

• A. Operations – overall incident leadership; Command – tactical field tasks; Planning – information and IAP; Logistics – budgeting and resource support.
• B. Command – overall incident leadership; Operations – tactical field tasks; Planning – information and IAP; Logistics – resources and services; Finance/Administration – cost and procurement.
• C. Planning – overall incident leadership; Command – field operations; Logistics – information management; Finance – public communications.
• D. Public Information Officer – command; Safety Officer – logistics; Liaison – planning; Finance – operations.

Answer: (B)

Each ICS section has a clear role to keep incident management organized and effective. The best match assigns Command to the overall incident leadership, Operations to the tactical field work, Planning to information management and the Incident Action Plan, Logistics to providing resources and services, and Finance/Administration to cost tracking and procurement. This setup keeps authority and scope distinct: Command sets priorities and safety, Planning coordinates information and plans, Operations carries out the actions on the ground, Logistics ensures the necessary people, equipment, and support, and Finance/Administration handles financial aspects and contracts. The other options mix up who leads, who handles field actions, who manages information, or who handles costs, which breaks the standardized structure of ICS.