When is it common/necessary for an incident commander to call for a PAR?

• A. At scene arrival
• B. When there is a change in strategy/tactics
• C. Only during large incidents
• D. When a crew requests assistance

Answer: (B)

A PAR (Personnel Accountability Report) is the formal check that confirms who is in the field, where they are, and what they’re doing. The moment you change your strategy or tactics, new tasks and locations come into play, and the plan on the ground can quickly become outdated. Running a PAR at that point ensures every crew member is still accounted for under the new approach, helps spot anyone who might be missing or in danger, and informs decisions about repositioning crews or bringing in more resources. This keeps safety and operations aligned as the incident evolves.

While a PAR can occur at scene arrival or during large incidents, and may be triggered by a crew requesting assistance, the strongest, most reliable trigger is a shift in how the incident is being handled. It ties accountability directly to the evolving plan and maintains an accurate, current picture of personnel status.