In emergency operations, the Gravenhurst Fire Department follows an internationally recognized organizational structure. All the strategic decisions made about an incident are made by Command. Command uses the information he receives from all sources in determining the overall plan and course of action. All actions undertaken by the firefighters are approved and coordinated by Command. All communications at the scene, whether they be updates or requests for resources, all go through Command.
Command follows a set of predetermined benchmarks in checking the progress at an incident.
These benchmarks determine the focus of the operation at any given point in time. In the example of a house fire, Command's priorities rest with life and then property. His tactical priorities are rescue, fire control and property conservation. Each priority has to be dealt with in order. At the end of each priority is a benchmark that serves to identify when one aspect of the situation has been resolved.