The Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) is a partnership between the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Forest Service to provide a national incident management training program that addresses multi-jurisdictional and all-hazard issues, including wildfire, that confront state emergency responders.

In 1998, work started on the development of the CIMC curriculum. NASF secured a grant from the U.S. Forest Service and charged the CIMC Steering Committee with development of a course that could be delivered up to twice a year anywhere in the United Sates and completed within a week.

Since 2001, NASF has successfully conducted 15 CIMC sessions in Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Michigan and Oregon. To date a total of 51 teams have successfully completed the course.

Target Group
State forestry organization employees designated to fill a state level incident management team position as an Incident Commander, Planning Section Chief, Operations Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance Section Chief, Safety Officer, Information Officer, and Liaison Officer are the primary target group for this course. Others are accepted as space and demand allow.

Prerequisites
I / S-420 and Position Training

Objectives
Course objectives are to train command and general staff positions to function as qualified state incident management teams who are able to assist their state forestry organizations and state emergency departments in the management of large or highly complex wildfires and other all hazard incidents. The focus of the course is to better prepare team members to address the unique and challenging management needs associated with these kinds of incidents.

Course Description
Using classroom lecture and simulated incidents the student will understand the role and function of an incident management team, the applicability of management principles to the incident management job, and the special considerations of incident management within geographic areas of the nation.

Nomination Process
A notification of training letter will be sent to each State Forester's office advising them of upcoming training and of the training location. The training location will rotate between the three NASF regions (Northeast, South and West). Teams from the host region will have priority of attendance.

State Foresters will then email a list of candidates, with their email addresses along with their team positions to the CIMC Executive Secretary. The CIMC Executive Secretary will then send to each candidate a user id, password and directions to apply for the course online. Access to this website is only authorized after the State Forester approval of the CIMC student application.

CIMC Standards (updated 12/2/11)

1. Demonstrate effective team processes and decision-making during complex and stressful situations.
2. Demonstrate the ability to develop action plans and other required incident management tasks for effective complex incident management.
3. Identify and demonstrate the IMT's responsibility for ensuring the safety of incident responders and the public.
4. Utilize the planning process to identify/recognize the need for the IMT to refine/modify objectives and strategies.
5. Understand and demonstrate the roles and relationships between Incident Management Teams (IMTs), Area Command Teams, and MAC Groups.
6. Demonstrate the ability to meet the management needs of Agency Administrators, Area Command Teams and MAC Groups.
7. Understand and demonstrate managerial and functional responsibilities of positions within Incident Management Teams and other complex organizations (MAC Groups, FEMA operations etc.), and satisfactorily performed the duties of their assigned position.
8. Identify external factors that influence IMT decisions and demonstrate knowledge of what steps/actions can be taken to mitigate these factors.
9. Understand and demonstrate responsibilities and techniques used during transfers of command; between the responsible agency or another IMT's and their IMT.
10. Understand and demonstrate the IMT's roles and responsibilities for development and maintenance of positive media and community relations.
11. Demonstrate strategic thinking and long range planning skills for management of complex incidents.

Current Complex Incident Management Course Steering Committee Members:

• Name
• Title
• Organization

• Cliff Liedtke, West NASF Representative
• CIMC Chair
• Oregon Dept of Forestry

• Betty Palmiotto
• CIMC Administrator
• Florida Division of Forestry

• Tom Parent
• Northeast NASF Representative
• Northeast Forest Fire Compact

• Bill Altman
• Northeast NASF Representative
• Missouri Dept of Conservation

• Boo Walker
• Southeast NASF Representative
• Texas Forest Service

• David Utley
• Southeast NASF Representative
• Florida Division of Forestry

• Bernie Paul
• West NASF Representative
• CALFIRE

• Deborah Corner
• NAFRI Representative
• NAFRI

Schedule of Future Courses

• Course Dates
• Location
• NASF Region

• Jan. 29 - Feb. 3, 2012
• Ione, California
• West

• Fall 2012
• Texas
• South

• Fall 2013
• Wisconsin
• Northeast

• Winter 2014
• TBD
• West

• Fall 2014
• New York
• Northeast

• Winter 2015
• TBD
• South

Completed Courses

• Host State
• Year of Occurrence
• No. of Teams

• Arizona
• Jan. 2000
• 3

• North Carolina
• Sep. 2001
• 4

• California
• Feb. 2002
• 5

• Florida
• Sep. 2003
• 5

• Oregon
• Feb. 2004
• 5

• Pennsylvania
• Sep. 2004
• 5

• Arizona
• Jan. 2005
• 5

• Texas
• Jan. 2006
• 5

• New York
• Oct. 2006
• 5

• California
• Feb. 2007
• 5

• North Carolina
• Oct. 2007
• 4

• Michigan
• Feb. 2008
• 5

• Montana
• Oct. 2009
• 5

• Florida
• Feb. 2010
• 5

• Maine
• Oct. 2010
• 5

• California
• Feb. 2011
• 5

For further information contact:

Cliff Liedtke (541-447-5658; Cliff.C.Liedtke@state.or.us) or Betty Palmiotto (850-488-6111; palmiob@doacs.state.fl.us)