Who usually determines the point of entry for forcible entry?

• A. Company officer
• B. Dispatcher
• C. Incident commander
• D. Firefighter in charge

Answer: (A)

On the fireground, the person directing the crew performing the entry makes the initial decision about where to enter. This is because entry points and tactics need to be tailored to the specific conditions the crew on the scene is facing—the door or window that best allows rapid access, minimizes hazard exposure, and supports a quick rescue or attack.

The company officer, who leads the arriving company, is closest to the scene and has the responsibility to assess the building, conditions, and crew capabilities. They translate those observations into a concrete entry plan, including the chosen point of entry, and then lead the team through that plan, coordinating with others as needed. The incident commander oversees overall strategy and resource deployment, but the tactical choice of where to enter is best made by the company officer in charge of the entry operations.

Dispatchers handle communications and resource dispatch, not the tactical entry decisions. The firefighter in charge is a crew member under the direction of the company officer and typically does not set the entry point on their own.

So the decision about where forcible entry occurs rests with the company officer.