STAGINGBOONE COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

What does staging mean to you?

1. Dispatched2. Responding3. Staged4. Assigned to incident by the IC5. Working or assigned as tactical reserve6. Recycling7. Rehabbing8. Ready for reassignment9. Available

Typical Response Cycle

Level 1 Staging

• Level 1 staging is in effect for all units dispatched on the initial assignment

• 1st Arriving Engine – Attack Engine• 2nd Arriving Engine – Supply Engine• 3rd Arriving Engine – Fill Site Engine

• Engine companies should not pass their last water source

• All incident scenes begin with staging

• Level 1 Staging will prevent excessive apparatus congestion at the scene

• It will also allow time for Command to evaluate conditions prior to assigning companies

• Staging does not work without using the map book

Why is Staging important?

What about Tankers?• Where were you dispatched?

• Areas with hydrants vs. areas without hydrants

• Role of the first arriving tanker

• Role of second arriving tanker, third arriving, etc.

• Position in the direction of travel on a cross street or at least one block away from the incident address

• When someone establishes command, this should trigger all units to stage - in an uncommitted position

• Be mindful of managing traffic

Proper Positioning

• If apparatus do not stage when they get to the scene, they will not be assigned according to the IC’s plan

• Staging procedures help eliminate freelancing

• The first 5 minutes equals the next 5 hours

What happens if I don’t stage?

• Apparatus arriving on scene should announce their staging type and location

• “Columbia, Engine 1501 is on scene, staging at the hydrant at Roseta and Santa Anna.”

• “Columbia, Tanker 905 is on scene, staging on Lewis St.”

• Staging locations should also be announced to the IC on the tactical channel along with the number of personnel.

• “Command, E1001 is staging at the Fill Site on Marshall Lane with two personnel.”

Radio Traffic

Establishing Water Supply• Once a fire is determined to be a “working fire”,

water supply should be established

• The initial water supply officer is the supply engineer

• A formal announcement should be made over the main radio frequency announcing that water supply is being established– “Columbia, E401 has water supply on the Yellow channel”

• This announcement should trigger all other incoming units to report directly to the water supply officer

• Large incidents requiring multiple resources

• Provides an on-scene reserve of companies in a formal staging area designated by the Incident Commander

• Should be located away from the incident with enough space to position apparatus

Level 2 Staging

Level 2 Staging

• Level 2 Staging should be managed by a designated Staging Officer

• This individual is in charge of managing units in staging on a secondary radio frequency (Red channel)

• The Staging Officer should maintain constant accountability and should notify the Incident Commander when resources get low

POV Staging

• Vehicle Accidents– Position on the same

side of the incident – Position ahead of the

incident when at all possible (150 feet)

• Structure Fires– Position on the same

side of the incident – POV’s should practice

Level 1 Staging by position at least on block away or positioning on a cross street

– Be mindful of water supply

• Always maintain the ability for ingress and egress of apparatus and the motoring public

Game Plan for Tonight