INITIAL APPARATUS PLACEMENT

andSTAGING

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE

SALT LAKE VALLEY FIRE ALLIANCE

WHAT IS THE GOAL?1. Standardize initial placement.2. Stop freelancing.3. Decrease scene congestion &

confusion.4. Reduce un-necessary radio traffic.5. Allow the IC time to formulate &

implement the incident plan.6. Make orderly & effective assignments.7. Proper apparatus placement &

resource utilization.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE # 1

• Allow the first arriving officer (incident commander) time to arrive, conduct a size-up, develop a plan of attack, and begin to place apparatus in a manner that supports the plan and eliminates freelancing of arriving companies.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE # 2

•Officers on responding apparatus understand when they are to respond and position (to best advantage) at the incident or “hold short” based on arrival sequence and directions from the I.C.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE # 3•Officers on responding apparatus understand that “holding short” is stopping the apparatus; not committing to the block or complex of the incident; leaving the maximum tactical options open.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE # 4• Officers understand their role and

responsibility for initial communications to include:

1. Initial arrival reports & communication of initial plan.

2. “Holding-short” communication with unit, direction from incident, & number of personnel.

3. Not responding to dispatch during response or when holding-short unless they are first to arrive.

4. Relaying critical information to the I.C. & reminding the I.C. of their status when necessary.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVE # 5

•Officers dispatched to a staging area must understand their role if first to arrive in the staging area, or designated as the Staging Area Manager.

“Officers on responding apparatus must realize the negative impacts of improperly placing apparatus, clogging and blocking access, and removing the ability of the I.C. to effectively plan and place resources”

“There is no need to add additional stress and confusion to an incident”

“By holding-short, officers can enhance the ability of the I.C. to complete a size-up and formulate an incident plan that will facilitate the most effective and efficient use of, and maximize the capabilities of responding apparatus and personnel.”

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•Apparatus are dispatched to an incident and/or reported structure fire.

•Apparatus come up on-the-air and announce that they are in route to the dispatched incident.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•Dispatch will not acknowledge each apparatus as they come up on-the-air.

•Apparatus officers should stay off-the-air during this phase of the response.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•After all apparatus have come up on-the-air dispatch will give the initial details.•Dispatch will give the pre-arrival information to the responding apparatus. Dispatch will transmit: “Units responding to…..” and announce the pre-arrival information details.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•Only the first-due apparatus (engine/truck) and B/C will acknowledge the pre-arrival information and time checks.

•All other apparatus stay off-the-air and monitor the information.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•The first-due engine company will respond directly to the scene and position to best advantage, leaving key positions near the structure clear for truck company placement.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•The first-due truck company will respond directly to the scene and position to best advantage as directed by the company officer or I.C. based on the size-up and incident priorities.

ARRIVAL

• The officer of the first arriving fire unit will assume command, complete an initial size-up, develop a plan to address the incident priorities and put that plan into action.

1. Assume command & accountability.2. Give the initial arrival report of conditions

showing and command mode.3. Conduct a size-up (incident plan).4. Make tactical assignments (support the

plan).

ARRIVAL•The first arriving B/C will respond directly to the incident and position to best advantage for assuming command responsibilities.•Subsequent arriving command and staff officers will report directly to the command post unless otherwise directed by the I.C.

ARRIVAL

•Support units such as command vehicles, medic units, ambulances, air utilities, etc. shall position in such a manner as to not block access or placement positions for later arriving units.

HOLDING-SHORT

•All other apparatus responding (regardless of alarm) will “hold-short” (stop) in the direction of travel, without committing to the block or complex of the incident, until assigned by the I.C.

HOLDING-SHORT

•Apparatus must be placed in an uncommitted position that provides the maximum tactical options with regard to access, placement, water supply, etc.

HOLDING-SHORT

•Apparatus will report company number, direction from the incident, and number of personnel on-board:

“Engine 21, holding west with 4”(dispatch will not acknowledge apparatus “holding-short”)

HOLDING-SHORT

•An acknowledgement of arriving apparatus is not necessary from dispatch or the I.C.

•Dispatch will monitor and track the status of responding apparatus.

HOLDING-SHORT

•Apparatus will stay off-the-air until an assignment from the I.C is received.•After a reasonable amount of time the officer may remind the I.C. of their status if forgotten.•After all dispatched apparatus have arrived (or holding-short), dispatch may notify the I.C. that all units are on-scene or remind the I.C. of the units “holding-short” if necessary.

HOLDING-SHORT

•These procedures are designed to reduce unnecessary radio traffic, but should not prevent the transmission of critical information as observed by the apparatus officer to the I.C.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•Apparatus should continue response to the scene until the first due fire department unit (engine/truck) arrives.

•When the first unit (engine/truck) reports on-scene, apparatus will “hold-short” of the incident in uncommitted positions.

DISPATCH & INITIAL RESPONSE

•Apparatus officers should utilize radio communications to coordinate possible simultaneous arrival of two apparatus.

•Fire dispatch shall only acknowledge the arrival of the first unit and assumption of command.

TAKE A BREAK

STAGING

•Staging is related to complex-type incidents requiring an on-scene reserve of apparatus.•Formal Staging Area designated by the I.C.•The I.C. should consider the need prior to requesting additional resources.

STAGING

•The Staging Area should be located away from the command post and incident in order to provide adequate space for assembly and safe movement.

STAGING AREA MANAGER

•The I.C. may designate a Staging Area Manager.•In the absence of a designated manager….the first engine company officer to arrive in the staging area will automatically assume the Staging Area Manager responsibilities and notify the I.C. of their status.

STAGING AREA MANAGER• Role and responsibilities of the

Staging Area Manager:1. Coordinate with law enforcement for

traffic control and security of the area.2. Park apparatus in an appropriate

manner. Space limited? Back them into position.

3. Maintain accountability (passports)4. Create an inventory5. Coordinate/communicate with the I.C.

(designated radio channel)6. Assume a visible position (lights on)7. Advise command on resource levels

STAGING

•Apparatus dispatched to staging should respond on the “staging-channel.”

STAGING

• Truck companies, or specialty units (Haz Mat, Heavy Rescue, etc.)due to their limited numbers, will not be assigned Staging Area Manager responsibilities.

• If a truck company is first to arrive….begin the process and transfer supervision to the first arriving engine officer or individual designated by the I.C.

STAGING

•Radio designation “STAGING”

•Communication is between Staging and the I.C or Operations Section if established.

STAGING

•All responding apparatus will report directly to the Staging Area Manager.

•Crew members will remain with their apparatus (crew intact) with warning lights off.

ASSIGNMENT from STAGING

•When requested from the I.C. or Operations Section Chief.•Staging will verbally assign unit/s.•Staging advises command of unit/s assigned.•Division and/or Group communicates with unit/s assigned.

STAGING

•Staging communicates directly with dispatch when requesting resources.

•A separate radio channel or cell phone should be used for this communication.

REVIEW the GOALS

• Standardize initial placement.• Stop freelancing.• Decrease scene congestion & confusion.• Reduce un-necessary radio traffic.• Allow the I.C. time to formulate &

implement the incident plan.• Make orderly & effective assignments.• Proper apparatus & resource utilization.

Restricted Access

Improper Placement Blocks Access

Turn-table blocked & out of position

Ladder stopped on corner of building blocking all access from the south side. Ladders can take

corners but make sure they do not block access.

Once the first due engine and truck are on-scene….all other responding units “hold-short” without committing to

the block or complex of the incident….

Allow command to

bring you in and

place you to best

advantage….

You can always

stretch more

hose….

It’s impossible

to stretch

a ladder….

Proper Placement

• Think before you act…Think before you position your apparatus…..

• Rarely will engine placement be more critical than truck placement…..

• Fire will burn to the turn-table…..

• Apparatus design & function – all apparatus are not created equal…..

Remember: The key word is placement… based on apparatus capability & function

-Turn-table is in alignment with the objective (function)

-Keep support vehicles out-of-the way

Function Dictates Placement

Command vehicle positioned out-of-the way with view of the incident

Engine with sky-boom aerial device centered on objective

Support vehicles positioned out-of-the way

Every officer responding to the scene should be considering truck placement….Where to place it and how

not to block placement.

Remember: All apparatus are not created equal…..

• Towers are built as master stream platforms…they are designed to “fight fire”

• Ladders are designed for rescue and access

What About Quints?

• What If there is more than one truck responding on the initial assignment and both are quints?

• Which truck (quint) performs truck work?• Consider that the turn-table is the priority for

placement – even if the decision is made to lay attack lines.

• If the first truck (quint) deploys attack lines, then the second truck should focus on “truck work” support functions.

• In every case – reinforce your position & actions