Appliance Placement and Staging

Scope

This Operational Guideline covers the placement and the staging of appliances at or near an incident.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• Initial appliances are to take up safe initial attack positions to commence firefighting. These positions should not obstruct access to or egress from the area, are to be clear of hazards including smoke, potential fire, power lines, building or tree collapse areas, and be within a safe striking distance. The availability of water supply and a rest area are also to be considered, where appropriate.
• Back up appliances, when approaching the incident, are to call the Incident Controller (IC) for further instructions unless advised otherwise by FireCom. Back up appliances are to act in accordance with these instructions.
• Where permitted, members proceeding to incidents separately from their appliance (e.g., in their own car) are to park in a safe location and report to the Officer in Charge (OIC) of their appliance or a staging area (if established) for briefing before commencing activities on the incident ground.

Staging Area(s)

• The IC or a person delegated by them should establish staging area(s) to prevent congestion on the incident ground from large numbers of incoming appliances. A Staging Officer may be appointed to coordinate activities at the staging area(s). Appliances will be called to the incident ground from the staging area(s) when and as needed.

Special Considerations

• Once a staging area is established, a resource management system, such as T-cards, should be brought into use to account for each appliance/resource at the scene.
• There are three levels of staging at incidents, depending on the size of the incident:
  • Level 1 (Tactical) - typically, local appliances approaching a smaller fire, will remain at a safe distance to be tasked before joining operations.
  • Level 2 (Tactical) - normally activated for a growing incident that requires a an appropriately qualified and experienced officer to take control. Allows appliances to be assembled at a convenient location close to the fire to await deployment, (e.g., a street corner, paddock, or park). Provides a pool of resources for an IC for immediate deployment onto the fireground. May or may not have logistics facilities.
  • Level 3 (Strategic) - established during large scale incidents for locating large contingents of appliances. It is located a distance away from the fire and typically has facilities such as fuel, supplies, toilets, rest, and briefing areas.

Related Information

• IMP 3.08.01.04 Staging Area Coordinator
• IMP 3.08.01.04.01 Staging Area Manager