What are the two strategies of incident management?

The two strategies of incident management are offensive and defensive.

Offensive strategy involves actively engaging in the incident to mitigate hazards, protect lives, and extinguish fires or control the situation directly at the source. This approach typically implies a more aggressive stance, where firefighters may enter a structure to extinguish a fire or rescue individuals. The intent is to take command of the situation, and it often requires quick decision-making and risk assessment, as firefighters must address evolving circumstances actively.

On the other hand, a defensive strategy is used when the situation poses too great a risk to personnel, or when resources are limited. In this case, firefighters focus on protecting exposures, containing the incident, and preventing the fire from spreading rather than directly confronting the hazard. This strategy emphasizes safety for the personnel involved and seeks to manage the situation from a safe distance until it's controllable or certain conditions improve.

Both strategies are essential for effective incident management and are chosen based on the specific circumstances and conditions at each incident scene. Understanding when to apply each strategy is crucial for the safety of responders and the successful resolution of emergencies.