Who should generally serve as the incident commander during a live fire training evolution?

• A. Safety officer
• B. Instructor-in-charge
• C. Fire chief
• D. Training lieutenant

Answer: (B)

During a live fire training evolution, the person who holds overall command on the scene should generally be the instructor-in-charge. This individual is responsible for directing the evolution, guiding the training objectives, and making decisive calls about when to ignite, how the evolution progresses, and when to stop or modify actions. Having a single, accountable person in charge helps keep the operation organized, ensures clear communication, and maintains safety throughout the exercise.

The safety officer’s role is to monitor hazards and intervene if risks become unacceptable, but they do not lead the entire operation. Having the IIC as the incident commander provides a consistent chain of command focused on training goals while the safety officer handles risk controls. While a fire chief or a training lieutenant might be present, they are not automatically the on-scene incident commander for the live burn; the instructor-in-charge is specifically designated to manage the live-fire evolution and its safety aspects.