Active assailant incidents: the JFRD apparatus will remain in staging until directed by whom?

• A. Unified command
• B. Incident command
• C. Local authorities
• D. Fire marshal

Answer: (A)

In an active assailant response, resources are kept in staging to stay ready but out of the hot zone until someone with overall scene authority says otherwise. When multiple agencies are involved, Unified Command is established to coordinate all actions, share information, and allocate assets across fire, law enforcement, and EMS. Because Unified Command has the authority to direct how resources move and where they operate, the JFRD apparatus will remain in staging until Unified Command directs otherwise. This keeps the response organized, ensures safety, and aligns movements with the overall incident strategy.

If there were only one agency in charge, Incident Command would handle directing deployments, but that’s not the case here. Local authorities and the Fire Marshal play important roles, yet they do not independently direct cross-agency tactical deployments in the field; that coordination falls under Unified Command.