Who has the authority to change group assignments during a mayday?

• A. The Incident Commander (IC).
• B. The Safety Officer.
• C. The Public Information Officer.
• D. The Liaison Officer.

Answer: (A)

During a mayday, the priority is to save the distressed firefighter and keep crews safe. In the Incident Command System, the person in charge has the authority to adjust tactical assignments on the fly to meet evolving needs. This means the Incident Commander can reallocate groups, move resources, or designate new tasks to ensure a rapid rescue and to maintain overall safety at the scene.

The Safety Officer contributes safety input and can stop or modify operations if a hazard becomes unacceptable, but they do not unilaterally reassign groups. The Public Information Officer handles communications, and the Liaison Officer coordinates with outside agencies. Their roles support the incident, but they do not direct tactical changes.

So, the Incident Commander is the one with the authority to change group assignments during a mayday.