SOP 203.03 STAGING LEVEL II

LEVEL II - STAGING

Level II Staging will relate to large, complex-type field situations requiring an on-scene reserve of companies and will involve formal staging in an area designated by Command. The Staging Area should be away from the Command Post and from the emergency scene in order to provide adequate space for assembly and for safe and effective apparatus movement. When Command announces a formal Staging Area, all responding companies will report to and remain in the Staging Area until assigned. When going to Level II, Command will formally announce: "Level II Staging" and will give approximate location of the Staging Area. Level II Staging will automatically supercede Level I Staging: companies already staged in Level I will remain in Level I until assigned.

When calling for assistance, Command should consider Level II staging at the time of the call. This will be more functional calling for Level II staging while units are en-route.

Command may designate a Staging Area and Staging Officer who will be responsible for the activities outlined in this directive. In the absence of such an assignment, the first Fire Department officer to arrive at the Staging Area will automatically become the Staging Officer, will notify Command of his arrival, and will assume command, of the Staging Area.

Due to the limited number of ladder companies (Aerial Towers), if the first arriving officer is a ladder officer he will transfer Command of Staging to the first arriving off-duty company officer. In cases where the first Fire Department officer arrives with his company, he will assign his company members to best advantage. In some cases, Command may ask the Staging Officer to scout the best location for the Staging Area and report back to Command.

The radio designation for the Staging Officer, Area and function will be: "STAGING". All communications involving Staging will be between Staging and Command or Staging and "Operations" level if established). All responding companies will stay off the air, respond directly to the designated Staging Area, and report (in person) to the Staging Officer. They will standby their unit with crew intact and warning lights turned off.

When requested by Command , the Staging Officer will verbally assign companies to report to specific sectors, telling them where and to whom to report. He will then advise Command of the specific unit(s) assigned. The operating Sector Officer may then communicate directly with the company by radio. .

Staging will give Command periodic reports of available companies in Staging. Staging may utilize another channel and communicate- directly with Alarm for resource.

The Staging Officer will also be responsible for the following functions:

Coordinate with the Police Department to block streets, intersections and other access required for the Staging Area.

Insure that all apparatus is parked in an appropriate manner.

Maintain a log of companies available in the Staging Area and inventory all specialized equipment that might be required at the scene.

Review with Command what resources must be maintained in the Staging Area and coordinate the request for these resources with Alarm Headquarters.

To assume a position that is visible and accessible to incoming and staged companies. This will be accomplished by leaving his red lights operating.

In some cases, the Staging Officer may have to indicate best direction of response and routing for responding companies to get into the Staging Area.

Ambulances responding to incidents where Level II Staging has been established will be. dispatched to the Staging Area. The Staging Officer will acknowledge the arrival of the ambulances with Alarm and will give instructions to the ambulance personnel as requested by Command.

At some incidents, such as a major medical emergency, it may be necessary to designate a parking area for abandoned apparatus near the incident scene. This would be-necessary when the Staging Area is too far from the incident to facilitate hand carrying needed equipment to the incident site. In such cases, the Staging Officer shall designate the parking site and instruct each company of its location before they leave Staging. The parking area should be close enough to the incident site to allow easy transfer of needed equipment to the scene. The parking area should in no way impede necessary access for ambulances or other units to the incident area.

Unless otherwise instructed by Command, Staging will advise Command when the level of resources in the Staging area is depleted to two engines and one ladder or less. Command will make a decision whether or not to call for additional units or to strike an additional alarm.

Command may instruct Staging to maintain a base level or resources until further advised. In such circumstances, Staging will communicate directly with Alarm to request additional units.