ICS 201
Incident Briefing
Purpose. The Incident Briefing (ICS 201) provides the Incident Commander (and the Command and General Staffs) with
basic information regarding the incident situation and the resources allocated to the incident. In addition to a briefing
document, the ICS 201 also serves as an initial action worksheet. It serves as a permanent record of the initial response
to the incident.
Preparation. The briefing form is prepared by the Incident Commander for presentation to the incoming Incident
Commander along with a more detailed oral briefing.
Distribution. Ideally, the ICS 201 is duplicated and distributed before the initial briefing of the Command and General
Staffs or other responders as appropriate. The “Map/Sketch” and “Current and Planned Actions, Strategies, and Tactics”
sections (pages 1–2) of the briefing form are given to the Situation Unit, while the “Current Organization” and “Resource
Summary” sections (pages 3–4) are given to the Resources Unit.
Notes:
• The ICS 201 can serve as part of the initial Incident Action Plan (IAP).
• If additional pages are needed for any form page, use a blank ICS 201 and repaginate as needed.
Block
Number
Block Title Instructions
1 Incident Name
Enter the name assigned to the incident.
2 Incident Number
Enter the number assigned to the incident.
3 Date/Time Initiated
• Date, Time
Enter date initiated (month/day/year) and time initiated (using the 24-
hour clock).
4 Map/Sketch (include sketch,
showing the total area of
operations, the incident
site/area, impacted and
threatened areas, overflight
results, trajectories, impacted
shorelines, or other graphics
depicting situational status and
resource assignment)
Show perimeter and other graphics depicting situational status,
resource assignments, incident facilities, and other special information
on a map/sketch or with attached maps. Utilize commonly accepted
ICS map symbology.
If specific geospatial reference points are needed about the incident’s
location or area outside the ICS organization at the incident, that
information should be submitted on the Incident Status Summary (ICS
209).
North should be at the top of page unless noted otherwise.
5 Situation Summary and
Health and Safety Briefing (for
briefings or transfer of
command): Recognize potential
incident Health and Safety
Hazards and develop necessary
measures (remove hazard,
provide personal protective
equipment, warn people of the
hazard) to protect responders
from those hazards.
Self-explanatory.
6 Prepared by
• Name
• Position/Title
• Signature
• Date/Time
Enter the name, ICS position/title, and signature of the person
preparing the form. Enter date (month/day/year) and time prepared
(24-hour clock).
7 Current and Planned
Enter the objectives used on the incident and note any specific problem
areas.