What is the purpose of an "after-action review"?

The primary purpose of an "after-action review" is to review and improve the response to incidents. This involves a comprehensive examination of how the response was handled, what tactics were used, the effectiveness of those tactics, and the overall outcome of the incident. By conducting an after-action review, fire service teams can identify strengths and weaknesses in their response, ensuring that lessons learned are applied to future incidents.

Collecting data and feedback in this manner is critical for continuous improvement in operations and training, helping to enhance both safety and efficiency in emergency response. This not only aids in better preparedness for future incidents but also contributes to the overall mission and effectiveness of fire services.

While assessing financial implications, evaluating rescue operations, and analyzing psychological effects are important aspects of incident management, they are not the primary focus of an after-action review. Instead, the review specifically concentrates on the operational aspects and response strategies used during the event.