What is an Incident Action Plan (IAP) and what are its core elements?

• A. A financial report detailing costs for the incident.
• B. A list of agencies involved.
• C. A handover checklist for equipment.
• D. A written or oral plan outlining incident objectives, strategies, assignments, and safety considerations for the operational period.

Answer: (D)

An Incident Action Plan is the coordinated plan used to guide incident operations for the current operational period. It communicates what the incident aims to achieve (objectives), how those aims will be reached (strategies), who will do what (assignments), and what safety actions must be taken to protect responders and the public (safety considerations). It can be written or conveyed orally and is updated as conditions evolve, keeping everyone—across involved agencies—aligned on priorities and tasks. This scope—objectives, approach, real-time assignments, and safety—is what sets the IAP apart. Other options miss this combination: one focuses on costs, another on agencies, and another on equipment handover; none encapsulate the plan that directs objectives and actions for the operational period with safety at the forefront.