Establishment and Transfer of Command: The agency with primary jurisdictional authority over the incident designates the individual at the scene responsible for establishing command. When command is transferred, moving responsibility for incident command from one Incident Commander to another, the process must include a briefing that captures all essential information for continuing safe and effective operations. Reasons for transfer of command include:

• A more qualified person assumes command.
• The incident situation changes over time, resulting in a legal requirement to change command.
• Normal turnover of personnel based on time.
• The incident response is concluded and responsibility is transferred to the home agency.