What describes Unified Command and when is it used?

• A. A command structure led by the most senior agency, regardless of jurisdiction.
• B. A single, integrated command across jurisdictions used when multiple agencies have responsibility.
• C. A rotating leadership model within a single agency.
• D. A separate command that only handles pay and resources.

Answer: (B)

Unified Command means establishing one integrated command structure that coordinates multiple agencies that have responsibility for an incident. It’s used when more than one agency or jurisdiction is involved, so decisions about strategy, safety, and resource deployment are made jointly rather than by a single agency alone. In this setup, all participating agencies contribute to a shared incident action plan, with clear, aligned objectives and a single set of priorities. This ensures resources aren’t wasted, communications stay consistent, and the incident scales across agencies as needed.

The other descriptions don’t fit because one agency doesn’t automatically lead a multi-jurisdiction incident; leadership isn’t rotated within a single agency; and pay or resources aren’t controlled by a separate command—logistics manages those within the unified structure, not as a separate “pay and resources” command.