Three-Step Staging on the Fireground
The fireground is hectic and somewhat confusing at best. Setting up a staging area is one solution to managing apparatus and manpower during firefighting operations.
Unlike a command post, where the primary command functions are executed by the incident commander, a staging area is where apparatus and personnel report for their respective assignments.
Staging provides the incident commander with three major advantages:
- First, it prevents the inevitable congestion of apparatus at the scene. In areas of limited access, staging automatically creates room for later arriving, yet crucial units, such as truck companies or other specialty equipment that must be within a certain perimeter of the incident to be effective.
- Secondly, staging allows the incident commander time to correctly evaluate the situation and develop the best attack plan. In some instances, such as a hazardous material release, the best plan may be to move all units further from the hazard location. When incoming apparatus report directly to the scene, it is almost always difficult for the incident commander to use his forces to the best advantage, regardless of when they arrive.
- Lastly, staging greatly reduces radio traffic. Units reporting to a specific location know that they will receive further instructions at that time. I his allows the incident commander to control personnel and minimize “freelance operations. The line officer will now have time, away from the incident, to review the situation with his unit and to make specific tactical assignments.
As fire and emergency responses vary from routine structural fires to those of multiple alarm or mutual aid proportions, so too are the levels of staging added or replaced as the incident dictates. The Phoenix, AZ, Fire Department has developed three staging levels to effectively and efficiently manage apparatus and manpower.
Each level is dependent on the size or time of the incident and the needs of the commander.
Level I is the most elementary and basic and is usually established by an arriving line officer as the incident enlarges in proportions. Level II and then Level III (if necessary) would be established to replace or enhance the earlier levels.
Level I
Level I staging involves the holding of all but the first-arriving engine and special service company (truck or squad) within several blocks of the units’ approach to the incident scene. Once it has been determined if any of these units will be needed, they proceed to the location, taking the best possible position. In cases of limited access, these vehicles could remain on the closest access road and advise the communications center and the incident commander of their arrival and position by radio (for example, “Engine 11 staging north.”).
Level II
Level II staging is the equivalent of a second alarm response, except that all manpower and apparatus report to the staging area located away from the immediate incident scene. Only the units necessary are transferred to the incident itself.
The staging area should be large enough to comfortably position and manage all incoming resources. A shopping mall parking lot is ideal.
Because the vast majority of structural fires tended to be extinguished (or burned out) within a matter of hours, there had been no reason to consider additional staging operations—until the past few years, due to the growing awareness of hazardous material emergencies. It is not uncommon for hazardous material incidents to continue over days or even weeks, and to involve many different agencies and personnel. These emerging problems lead us to consider an additional staging level, Level III.
Level III
Level III involves the staging of units and manpower at a fire station or other building convenient to the fire scene.
Response personnel may now be protected from the weather, in constant communication with the incident commander and other sources and, if necessary, fed. Now, firefighters, EMS personnel, and others will be able to perform at peak capacity when eventually called to the scene. Staged apparatus can be shut down to conserve fuel and to reduce the likelihood of mechanical breakdown. When resources are needed, these units can move up to Level II staging or report directly to the scene if requested.
Such a “rear command post” allows all operations personnel to combine talents and knowledge for a successful outcome. This concept has been in use for many years by the armed forces and the U.S. Forest Service when faced with “campaign operations” such as large forest fires, airplane crashes, etc.
These staging procedures are rapidly moving from the “nice-to-know” to the “need-to-know” category in the urban chief’s command arsenal.
