About Incident Management Teams

What is an Incident Management Team and Who Needs to Have One?

An Incident Management Team (IMT) is a comprehensive resource (a team) to either augment ongoing operations through provision of infrastructure support, or when requested, transition to an incident management function to include all components/functions of a Command and General Staff. An IMT:

Includes command and general staff members and support personnel
Has statutory authority and/or formal response requirements and responsibilities
Has pre-designated roles and responsibilities for members (Rostered and on-call: Identified and able to be contacted for deployment)
Is available 24/7/365

A timeline showing the typical timeframes for response and operations of the different types of IMTs is shown below.

IMT Timeline for Response and Operations

Upon arrival, the IMT's Incident Commander (IC) will meet with the local IC and the Agency Administrator (County Executive, City Manager or Mayor, etc.) to determine what they desire/expect from the IMT, and to obtain any necessary delegation of authority. The incoming IC will then brief the rest of the incoming IMT about their role/expectations. The IMT will then integrate as requested into the current ICS structure.

Type 3 Incident Management Team

A multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents, formed and managed at the State, regional or metropolitan level.
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 IAP.
May be utilized at incidents such as a tornado touchdown, earthquake, flood, or multi-day hostage/standoff situation, or at planned events.
May initially manage larger, more complex incidents prior to arrival of and transition to a Type 2 or Type 1 IMT.

Type 2 Incident Management Team

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 National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training regimen at the Type 2 level for their specific position.
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.

Type 1 Incident Management Team

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.
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. This includes incidents where Operations Section personnel may exceed 500 per operational period and total incident personnel may exceed 1000.

Examples of Incident Management Team Use

Type of Incidents

Natural disasters
Terrorist incidents
Train derailments, aircraft incidents, and other large/complex accidents
Public or civil unrest (spontaneous or at planned events)
Public event requiring the cooperation and joint participation of two or more agencies or jurisdictions
Coordination of on scene operations
- Management and coordination of efforts
- Procedures for assigned functional areas
- Development and modification of an IAP
- Planning process