Who is responsible for acknowledging a May-Day transmission and implementing rescue actions?

The responsibility for acknowledging a May-Day transmission and implementing rescue actions falls primarily on the Incident Commander. The Incident Commander holds the ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the incident, including the safety of all personnel operating on the scene. When a May-Day is declared, it indicates that a firefighter is in distress and requires immediate assistance.

The Incident Commander must prioritize the response to this situation by coordinating resources, ensuring that the appropriate rescue teams are deployed, and managing communications to facilitate an efficient and effective rescue operation. The Commander assesses the situation, allocates personnel, and maintains situational awareness to ensure that the rescue is executed safely without compromising the safety of the responding units.

In this context, while other positions like a Senior Captain, Support personnel, or Chief Officer can play vital roles in an incident, it is the Incident Commander who is specifically tasked with the direct oversight and execution of rescue operations following a May-Day call.