Which factor should company officers use to determine their course of action during an incident?

The determination of a course of action during an incident is fundamentally guided by incident priorities. This involves assessing life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation, which are essential to effectively manage any emergency situation. By prioritizing these elements, officers can make informed decisions that focus on protecting lives first, then addressing the stabilization of the incident, and finally minimizing property damage. This structured approach ensures that tactical operations are aligned with the overarching goal of ensuring safety and effective response, making it the most critical factor in decision-making during an incident.

While scene control, resource management, and tactical channels are important components of incident management, they serve as tools or methods to execute the prioritized actions rather than the primary decision-making criteria. Therefore, incident priorities provide the framework within which all other factors can be managed effectively.