Who can request a PAR count?

• A. Operations Section Chief
• B. IC
• C. Safety Officer
• D. Liaison Officer

Answer: (B)

The key idea is accountability for everyone on scene. A PAR count is a Personnel Accountability Report that shows who is currently on the incident, where they are, and what they’re doing. The person in charge—the Incident Commander—has the overarching responsibility for safety and operations, so they are the one who initiates a PAR to verify that all responders are accounted for and to make timely decisions if someone is missing or a situation changes. The IC can delegate reporting tasks to supervisors or unit leads, but the authority to request the PAR comes from the person in command. Other roles contribute to safety and coordination, and they may provide information for the PAR, but the formal request originates with the IC to maintain clear, centralized accountability.