Incident Management Team Types

There are different types of incident management teams (IMT) in Pennsylvania. Learn what they are below.

Type 4 and 5: Local and Regional IMT

A local or regional IMT (Type 4 or 5) is a single and/or multi-agency team for expanded incidents typically formed and managed at the city or county level or by a pre-determined regional entity. It is a designated team of seven to ten trained personnel that responds to incidents that are typically contained within one operational period or usually within a few hours after resources initially arrive on scene.

The local IMT may be dispatched to manage or help manage incidents requiring a significant number of local and mutual aid resources. Incidents that a local IMT may be utilized at include major structure fires, multi-vehicle crashes with multiple patients, armed robbery operations, or a hazardous material spill.

The Local IMT may also be used at public events. Local IMTs may initially manage larger, more complex incidents prior to arrival of an All-Hazard IMT or a Type 1 or 2 IMT.

Type 3: All-Hazard IMT

An all-hazard (Type 3) IMT is a multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents formed and managed at the state, regional, or metropolitan level.

It is a designated team of trained personnel from different departments, organizations, agencies, and jurisdictions within a state or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) region, activated to support incident management at incidents that extend beyond one operational period.

All-hazard IMTs are deployed as a team of ten to 35 trained personnel to manage major and/or complex incidents requiring a significant number of local, regional, and state resources. They also manage incidents that extend into multiple operational periods and require written Incident Action Plans (IAP).

An all-hazard (Type 3) IMT may be utilized at incidents such as a tornado touchdown, earthquake, flood, or multi-day hostage/standoff situation. They are also utilized at planned mass-gathering type of events such as festivals, political rallies, state and national summits and conferences. An all-hazard IMT may initially manage larger, more complex incidents that are later transitioned to a Type 2 or Type 1 IMT.

Type 2 IMT

A Type 2 IMT is a self-contained, all-hazard or wildland team recognized at the national and state level. They are coordinated through the state, the Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC), or the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). All personnel meet the NWCG training regimen at the Type 2 level for their specific position.

A Type 2 IMT is deployed as a team of 20-35 to manage incidents of regional significance and other incidents requiring a large number of local, regional, state, and national resources. This includes incidents where operations section personnel approach 200 per operational period and total incident personnel approach 500.

Several dozen Type 2 IMTs are currently in existence, and operate through the U.S. Forest Service.

Type 1 IMT

A Type 1 IMT is a self-contained, all-hazard team recognized at the national and state level, coordinated through the state, GACC, or NIFC. All personnel meet the NWCG training regimen at the Type 1 level for their specific position.

A Type 1 IMT is deployed as a team of 35-50 to manage incidents of national significance and other incidents requiring a large number of local, regional, state, national, and federal resources over multiple operational periods. This includes incidents where operations section personnel may exceed 500 per operational period and total incident personnel may exceed 1000.

Eighteen Type 1 IMTs are now in existence, and operate through the U.S. Forest Service.