What is the area where the command post should be established during a hazardous materials incident?

The command post during a hazardous materials incident should be established in the Warm Zone. This area serves as a buffer between the Hot Zone, where the actual contamination occurs, and the Cool Zone, which is considered safe for personnel and equipment.

The Warm Zone is ideal for the command post because it allows for effective management of the incident while still being close enough to the action to monitor developments. Personnel in this zone may be exposed to limited hazards, and it allows for a controlled environment where communications can be established, resources coordinated, and strategies developed without direct exposure to contaminated materials.

Establishing the command post in the Cool Zone would place it even farther from the action and operations, making it less effective for immediate management of the incident. The Hot Zone is too dangerous for personnel not wearing appropriate protective equipment, and the concept of a Secure Zone pertains to security and access control rather than the operational framework needed for command and management during an incident. Therefore, the Warm Zone is the most suitable and optimal location for establishing a command post in a hazardous materials incident.