When does the effective Incident Commander not stick with the initial plan of action?

The effective Incident Commander recognizes that circumstances on the ground can shift rapidly during an incident. When conditions change—such as the emergence of new hazards, the improvement or deterioration of the situation, or changes in resource availability—the Incident Commander must reassess and adapt the operational plan accordingly. This flexibility is crucial in emergency management to ensure that objectives are achieved safely and effectively.

Responding to changing conditions might involve altering tactics, deploying additional resources, or even shifting the focus of the response. This adaptability is an essential skill in managing incidents, as sticking rigidly to an initial plan in the face of new information or evolving situations could lead to ineffective or dangerous outcomes.

While factors such as team morale and public demands are important considerations, they do not have the same immediate impact on the operational effectiveness of an incident commander's response as changes in conditions do. The priority remains on the safety and effectiveness of the overall response effort.