Evolution of the
California Incident Command Certification System (CICCS)
1995 - 230 Fire Chiefs and Training Officers throughout the state met in a series of hearings to discuss the design, use, and implementation of the Incident Command System (ICS). One of the items discussed concerned the creation of a system to “…standardize certification and qualifications for ICS positions.”
1996 - 56 recommendations were developed to enhance fire agencies’ capability to combat wildland fire incidents and provide for maximum safety for personnel. Approximately 12 of those recommendations should be adopted on a statewide basis for review and concurrence.
1997 - The Fire and Rescue Service Advisory Committee/FIRESCOPE Board of Directors decided that any type of training program should include the “Development of qualifications and experience requirements for all fire fighters responding to mutual aid wildland/urban interface incidents.” That the California Fire Service “…develop minimum qualifications and certifications for all-risk emergency incident management starting with wildland firefighting”. That the “…FIRESCOPE Board of Directors should appoint members to a working group chaired by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop minimum standards for all-risk incident management. The working group should use National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) 310-1 as the model. The first task should be to define how the system should work and then define the standards beginning with wildland firefighting and progressing to other all-risk applications such as high rise, earthquake and hazardous materials, etc.” And further that “the Board agreed that the CDF/Office of the State Fire Marshal should lead the development of State of California Incident Management Certifications and Qualifications for the California Fire Service.”
1998 - The first meeting of the newly created “California Incident Command Certification System Task Force” was held in August 1998 at the State Fire Marshal’s Office in Sacramento. The original CICCS Task Force was composed of representatives from: CDF/SFMO – CDF – OES Fire and Rescue – Chico Fire Department – Riverside Fire Department – Los Angeles County Fire Department – and Rio Hondo College, Fire Technology Department and was “…charged with developing the necessary components for the establishment of minimum training and qualifications system for all-risk incident management positions within the Incident Command System.”
1999 - The California Incident Command Certification System Task Force met several times during the year and developed recommendations that were accepted by the State Board of Fire Services.
2000 - The CICCS Task Force continued to work on refining the proposed California Incident Command Certification System. In November of 2000, the State Board of Fire Services reviewed and approved the CICCS and recommended that the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire Training Program, implement the new system as a state standard.
2002 - The implementation of CICCS at the local government fire department level was started.
2006 - OES Fire and Rescue through the cooperation of and with direction from the CDF/SFMO is tasked with the re-institution of the CICCS Task Force.
Note: Placing the CICCS into service is a cooperative effort between the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Fire and Rescue Branch. State Fire Training is a SFMO responsibility, while the movement of fire service resources throughout the state during times of emergency is the responsibility of OES Fire and Rescue through the California Fire and Rescue Service Emergency Mutual Aid Plan.