Because of the small workforce available to the agency, team configuration, in-state team rotation, and reliance on part-time, “militia” type personnel to fulfill unit positions make New Jersey’s IMT different from the standard model.

The initial team configurations will each be a “short” team of four personnel. As staffing and qualifications become available, the configuration may be expanded. Each team will consist of;

·         An Incident Commander – a CIMC* qualified, permanent Forest Fire Service employee; responsible for overall team organization, welfare, and training.

·         An Incident Safety Officer - a CIMC qualified, permanent Forest Fire Service employee; responsible as, or to fulfill a command or general staff position as required. May serve as the Deputy IC for expanding incidents.

·         A Plans Section Chief – a CIMC qualified, permanent Forest Fire Service employee, responsible for managing the Plans Section and conducting the planning meetings.

·         A Logistics Section Chief - a CIMC qualified, permanent Forest Fire Service employee, responsible for managing the Logistics Section.

In the case of a wildfire incident, the Operation Section Chief is filled by the responsible Section Firewarden (Type IV or III IC). In non-wildfire incidents, a local qualified, discipline specific person may fill this position.

NJ-IMT will transition with each other every 72 hours, unless negotiated. This short rotation is used because of the normally short duration of in-state incidents and to allow team members to not be away from their normal duties for too long.

The incident management teams will be collectively responsible for recruiting and training additional personnel to meet the training standards of PMS-310.1 in order to fill key positions on both teams. This may include part-time Forest Fire Service employees as well as other State agency employees who have permission to participate on the teams. Currently, all of the unit leader positions are Type II or III “trainees”.   The goal is to eventually work with a NIMO team to receive national recognition as a Type II team. Additionally, team members are encouraged to take national assignments in their position to build experience.

At least two exercises are conducted annually to maintain practice in incident command. The team exercising will rotate each cycle, with one team to exercise as the other team facilitates the exercise. 

 * CIMC – Critical Incident Management Course which is S-520 (Type I) training equivalent.