Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) Program Overview

IMT Descriptions

In August 2003, USFA convened a Focus Group of stakeholders and experts from across the country to best determine the means to develop Type 3 incident management teams (IMTs) across the country. The Focus Group agreed to stay with the basic National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Command System (ICS) training and typing models for the all-hazards emergency response community. The IMT typing descriptions are as follows:

Type 3: State or Regional multi-agency / multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents
A multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents, formed and managed at the State, regional or metropolitan level. It is a designated team of trained personnel from different departments, organizations, agencies, and jurisdictions within a state or DHS Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) region, activated to support incident management at incidents that extend beyond one operational period. Type 3 IMTs are deployed as a team of 10-20 trained personnel to manage major and/or complex incidents requiring a significant number of local, regional, and state resources, and incidents that extend into multiple operational periods and require a written Incident Action Plan (IAP), such as a tornado touchdown, earthquake, flood, or multi-day hostage/standoff situation, or at planned mass-gathering events. A Type 3 IMT may also initially manage larger, more complex incidents that are later transitioned to a Type 2 or Type 1 IMT.
Type 2: National or State team for incidents of regional significance
A self-contained, all-hazard or wildland team recognized at the National and State level, coordinated through the State, Geographic Area Coordination Center, or National Interagency Fire Center. All personnel meet the NWCG training regimen at the Type 2 level for their specific position. A Type 2 IMT is deployed as a team of 20-35 to manage incidents of regional significance and other incidents requiring a large number of local, regional, state, and national resources. This includes incidents where Operations Section personnel approach 200 per operational period and total incident personnel approach 500. Several dozen Type 2 IMTs are currently in existence, and operate through the U.S. Forest Service.
Type 1: National or State team for incidents of national significance
A self-contained, all-hazard team recognized at the National and State level, coordinated through the State, Geographic Area Coordination Center, or National Interagency Fire Center. All personnel meet the NWCG training regimen at the Type 1 level for their specific position. A Type 1 IMT is deployed as a team of 35-50 to manage incidents of national significance and other incidents requiring a large number of local, regional, state, national, and Federal resources over multiple operational periods. This includes incidents where Operations Section personnel may exceed 500 per operational period and total incident personnel may exceed 1000. Eighteen Type 1 IMTs are now in existence, and operate through the U.S. Forest Service.

Incident Management Team Structure

Incident Management Team Structure

IMT Development Concept

  1. Recommended for assigned members of Type 3 IMTs:
    Appointed by Metropolitan, Regional, or State Authority Having Jurisdiction.
    ICS 100, ICS 200 (Web-based or classroom) or equivalent
    ICS 300, ICS 400 or equivalent (National Fire Academy's Command and General Staff Functions for Local IMTs (O337) is equivalent)
    All-Hazard IMT (O305) offering, customized simulation (50-hour on-site); or S-420
    ICS position-specific professional development
    Field mentoring
    Audience: Approximately 106 Type 3 IMTs across the country (50 UASI regional areas and 56 states/territories)

For additional information, see the NIMS/Incident Management System Integration Division (IMSID) 5 Year Training Plan.