operations. The fire chiefs’s command function thus remains active.
Incident command can thus be considered as loaned out. As
necessary, the actual orientation of a response operation can be
influenced by decisions made by the fire chief, and the appointed
incident commander must follow the instructions and directions
issued by the fire chief. The fire chief may, for example, in con-
junction with assigning an incident commander, limit this per-
son’s authorities. If the incident commander does not comply
with the issued instructions, the commission can be withdrawn.
If several emergency response operations are underway simulta-
neously, the fire chief has overall responsibility for all response
operations. The fire chief must in such cases, among other things,
decide upon a distribution of resources, appropriate for the tasks
at hand (Prop. 2002/03:119).
The fire chief can influence the orientation of response opera-
tions through the aim of operations. In turn, the incident command-
er can influence the orientation of an ongoing response operation
through the objectives of the operation.
The incident commander’s duties and authorities are regulated
by the Swedish Civil Protection Act (2003:778) and the ordinance
on civil protection (2003:789). These duties and authorities pri-
marily encompass:
Infringement on the rights of others. If a risk to life, health or
property, or for damage in the environment cannot be suitably
counteracted in any other way, the incident commander and par-
ticipating personnel may during an emergency response opera-
tion effect entry to another person’s premises , cordon or evacuate
areas, use, remove or destroy property, and make other infringe-
ments on the rights of others to the degree that the infringements
can be justified with consideration to the character of the risk, the
damage inflicted through infringement and other circumstances.
The police shall provide any necessary assistance in the event of
infringement on the rights of others. The person who has decided
on cordoning or evacuation shall to a reasonable degree, assist in
arranging accommodations for those requiring such as a result of
the measures taken. Infringement on the rights of others can, for
example, concern taking measures that entail confiscating ma-
terials or equipment for use during a response operation. It can
also involve measures that entail that property is destroyed or lost
without this entailing any complementing of the rescue entity’s
rescue equipment.