Command termination occurs when which condition is met?

• A. When the incident ends
• B. When all units have cleared the area
• C. When the last company leaves the scene
• D. When a transfer of command occurs

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that on-scene command ends when there’s no longer any active on-scene work requiring a commander. When the final company has departed and the incident scene is cleared, there’s no one left directing operations, so the Incident Commander’s role on the scene is terminated. Transferring command changes who is in charge, but it doesn’t end the command function—it just moves it to another person. Likewise, while a code may be marked closed or the incident officially ended, the formal termination of command specifically happens when the last unit leaves the scene.