Which section is NOT part of the ICS General Staff?

The section that is typically not part of the ICS General Staff is the Safety section. In the Incident Command System (ICS), the General Staff consists of four principal sections: Finance, Operations, Plans, and Logistics. Each of these sections has a specific role in managing resources, strategies, and personnel during an incident.

The Finance section is responsible for tracking costs and financial responsibilities, ensuring that budgetary issues are managed effectively. The Operations section executes tactical operations to carry out the incident objectives, focusing on completing the assigned tasks and achieving incident goals. The Plans section is essential for developing the Incident Action Plan (IAP), gathering and analyzing information, and maintaining situational awareness through continuous planning.

While safety is undoubtedly a critical consideration in any incident response, it is not designated as a specific section within the General Staff itself. Instead, safety generally falls under the purview of the Safety Officer, who may work in conjunction with the Incident Commander and the General Staff but does not constitute a separate section like Finance, Operations, or Plans.