BOONE COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
STAGING
What does staging mean to you?
Typical Response Cycle
1. Dispatched
2. Responding
3. Staged
4. Assigned to incident by the IC
5. Working or assigned as tactical reserve
6. Recycling
7. Rehabbing
8. Ready for reassignment
9. Available
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
Why is Staging important?
• 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
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
Proper Positioning
• When someone establishes command, this should
trigger all units to stage - in an uncommitted
position
• Be mindful of managing traffic
What happens if I don’t stage?
• 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
Radio Traffic
• 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.”
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
Level 2 Staging
• 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 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
• 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
• Vehicle Accidents
– Position on the same
side of the incident
– Position ahead of the
incident when at all
possible (150 feet)
• Always maintain the ability for ingress and
egress of apparatus and the motoring public
Game Plan for Tonight