Strengthening Preparedness and Coordination for Large-Scale Incidents
Large-scale emergencies demand coordinated planning, effective communication, and collaboration across multiple agencies and jurisdictions. From natural disasters and mass casualty incidents to terrorism and other complex emergencies, fire and emergency service leaders must be prepared to manage incidents that extend beyond the capabilities of a single department.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) supports fire service leaders with operational guidance, planning tools, training resources, and best practices to strengthen emergency preparedness, improve interagency coordination, and support effective incident management.
Explore IAFC resources and educational opportunities focused on mutual aid, unified command, emergency management, homeland security, and large-scale incident response.
Ready to get involved?
Our Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee guides IAFC and policymakers on preparing for terrorist attacks. Our Emergency Management Committee addresses mutual aid and state-to-state coordination.
Featured large-scale response resources
Start with these toolkits and templates for planning and managing major incidents.
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Digital Capabilities Resilience Guide & Toolkit
Explore the IAFC Digital Capabilities Resilience Guide & Toolkit to help fire and EMS departments maintain essential operations during technology disruptions.
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What is US&R?
Explore Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task force capabilities, specialized teams, benefits and how fire departments can request resources during disasters.
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Supplemental Public Sector Training (SPST) Program
IAFC’s SPST Program strengthens hazmat preparedness through responder training, instructor development, unified command and emergency planning.
Large-scale response events
Learn alongside hazmat and homeland security responders at IAFC events.
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Fire-Rescue International 2027
Fire-Rescue International (FRI) is the IAFC’s annual conference bringing together fire and emergency service leaders for professional development, industry innovation, and peer networking.
Common Questions About Large-Scale Response
Quick answers for fire chiefs and emergency managers, with links to the full resources.
A large-scale response is the response to an event that typically needs resources and coordination beyond a single department. IAFC’s large-scale response area covers homeland security and terrorism, mutual aid, and natural disasters. In mutual aid, departments send crews and equipment to help one another.
IAFC’s Emergency Management Committee addresses mutual aid and provides state-to-state coordination and oversight for the Intrastate Mutual Aid System (IMAS) project. For practical direction, see the Fire and EMS Multi-Agency Mutual Aid, Preparedness, and Operations Guide.
Use the Special Events Toolkit. It was developed to make event planning more practical for fire service leaders and includes nine checklists. They cover fire prevention, medical aid stations, hospital coordination, drone hazards, unified command and communications, and demobilization.
The Digital Capabilities Resilience Guide & Toolkit focuses on operational readiness and leadership decision-making, not just cybersecurity and IT protection. It walks through five phases: Operational Size-Up, Prepare, Sustain Operations, Restore, and Improve. Tools include a First 60 Minutes Checklist and a tabletop exercise.
IAFC’s Terrorism & Homeland Security Committee develops resources to help the fire service mitigate, prepare for, and respond to terrorism and homeland security incidents. Our resource library includes an Active Shooter Toolkit and a Fire/EMS Operational Guide for Active Shooter/Mass Casualty Incidents.
Start with the IAFC event calendar. The International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference runs June 3 to 6, 2027, in Baltimore, MD, and covers terrorism and mass decontamination. IAFC Academy offers online courses, and members can seek training advice from peers in KnowledgeNet.