Which of the following is a time or event when the Incident Commander may call for a Personnel Accountability Report?

• A. There is a change in strategy
• B. Initial size-up is completed
• C. The incident commander changes
• D. There is a request for additional resources

Answer: (A)

A Personnel Accountability Report is used to verify where every firefighter is and what they are doing. When the tactics or plan changes, crews may be reassigned, moved to different locations, or shifted to new roles. This makes it essential to quickly confirm that all personnel are accounted for under the new strategy and to identify anyone who may be in danger or unable to respond. A change in strategy directly prompts this reassessment to maintain safety and clear accountability.

The other events don’t inherently require a PAR in the same direct way. Completing the initial size-up is a milestone that starts the operation but isn’t itself a trigger for an updated accountability check. A transfer of command is a leadership change and involves its own procedures. A request for additional resources may lead to resource tracking, but it isn’t as immediate a trigger for a full PAR as a shift in strategy.