Divisions in the operations section are primarily used to divide an incident based on what criteria?

Divisions in the operations section of the Incident Command System (ICS) are primarily used to organize resources and operations geographically. This organizational structure allows teams to focus on specific areas of the incident, facilitating more effective management and response. By grouping resources and operations according to geographic locations, incident commanders can delegate responsibilities more efficiently and enhance coordination among different teams operating in the field.

This geographic focus ensures that the response is tailored to the specific characteristics and challenges of different areas within the incident site. For example, in a wildfire situation, divisions might be set up based on different terrains or neighborhoods that require distinct tactical approaches.

The other criteria mentioned, such as functionality, resource type, and incident severity, are also important in the broader context of incident management but do not specifically define the primary basis for establishing divisions within the operations section. Functionality usually pertains to the roles or tasks assigned to various teams, resource type may refer to the categorization of assets available for the incident, and incident severity describes the overall complexity and urgency of the situation. However, none of these criteria are the primary focus of operational divisions like geographic divisions are.