The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fire response system consolidates the command and control of fire fighting resources, giving the organization flexibility and freedom to make the best use of its total fire fighting capability. Fire control operations are not constrained by administrative boundaries.
Field level fire response is delivered from Fire Management Headquarters and Attack bases. Fire Management Headquarters and Attack Bases operate on a seven-day per week basis during fire season.
Forward Attack Bases are set up during periods of escalated or anticipated fire activity in a particular area, and can be portable or temporary facilities
Regional Response Centre staff at Dryden and Sudbury are responsible for daily fire operations within their respective fire region. This includes aerial detection, project fires, regional equipment caches, tankers under their control, and the various fire management headquarters and attack bases within the region. The Duty Officer is part of the provincial response team and shares responsibility with the other regional duty officer and the provincial duty officer for the overall provincial fire response. A portion of the regional duty officer's responsibilities may be delegated to a Zone Duty Officer.
Within each region, Sector Response Officers have the responsibility of implementing the daily Strategic Operating Plan. They normally co-ordinate the deployment of fire crews and helicopters assigned to initial attack and the servicing of existing fires.
The Ministry Emergency Operations Centre (MEOC) staff at Sault Ste. Marie monitor the provincial fire situation and coordinate forest fire operations by setting provincial priorities and allocating resources accordingly. Key functions at the MEOC include strategic planning and long-range forecasting of resource requirements needed to meet anticipated, escalated fire activity involving large areas of the province.
The MEOC assigns provincial Incident Management Teams as required, sets up quick strike 
water bombing arrangements with neighbouring provinces and states, and controls the movements of the tanker groups under Provincial Control.
The MEOC Provincial Duty Officer coordinates the sharing of fire fighting resources between Ontario and other Canadian and US agencies through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in Winnipeg.
