The system, known as incident command, is intended to help agencies work together to direct strategy and share information.

To some degree, the Mayor's directive for incident command was followed on 9/11.

The procedures - called "incident command" by the department - were due to be completed last summer.

"People can get wrapped around the axle about incident command when it really has to do with communication," he said.

A strike team is made up as an operational unit to simplify incident command and control.

For example, Incident Command is established by the first arriving unit.

Hands-on skills include a table-top exercise focusing on incident command and control.

Other courses from firefighting to Incident Command and more are offered by the academy.

By training in Incident Command, volunteers know who to report to and how the incident is organized.

In the field, joint incident command, with top officials from each department standing next to each other, needs to be reinforced, a senior fire official said.