Staging for success

 

Staging areas are the vital link between planning and action. Without them, firefighting would be far less effective – especially during campaign fires. We talked to two staging area managers.

 

NICOLE MCGRATH

“Setting up a staging area for a major fire demands logistics, leadership and – above all – teamwork,” Ballarat City Fire Brigade Captain Nicole McGrath said.  

As a Staging Area Manager (SAM), Nicole is at the forefront of operations on the ground, supporting teams in Incident Control Centres to track every crew, every movement and every resource. SAMs are also often called upon to support the set-up of base camps at campaign fires due to their specialist skills. 

“Setting up a staging area at a base camp is like setting up for a large festival,” she said. “You’re dealing with everything from traffic management to lighting to safety and welfare. You assess the space you have to work with, visualise the set-up – and then it all has to come together fast.” 

From this central point, Nicole and her support team coordinate resources from CFA and other firefighting agencies, ensure crews and vehicles are ready to deploy and that they receive briefings before heading out to the fireground.  

Ballarat City brigade has its own mobile staging area capability, ready to respond to both small and large-scale incidents locally and across the state as needed.

“We can scale up quickly, not just with what we have in the brigade, but by calling on support from agencies such as DEECA and local councils,” Nicole explained. 

“Often you’re working from just a rough plan and a tight time line. You have to know what needs to be done and lean on your team and other agencies to get the job done.” 

While each staging area is tailored to the specific fire it supports, the essentials remain the same: a safe, well-organised space where trucks, vehicles and crews can muster and resources can be allocated efficiently. Additional support services such as catering, first-aid and welfare are layered in as needed. 

“A well-run staging area can make a huge difference to crew safety and the overall firefighting response,” Nicole said. “It’s one of the most important parts of our operations and probably one of the most underrated.” 

Behind every successful deployment is a team of dedicated individuals, each bringing their own skills and experience.

“It would never happen without the team. Everyone steps up, brings their strengths and we just make it work.” 

LEIGH MARSH  
For Industry Fire Prevention Manager Leigh Marsh the journey into the SAM role began not in the field, but behind the scenes. 

“When I was working as a community safety officer, a number of my colleagues were undertaking SAM duties,” Leigh explained. “After several years working in an incident control centre , I realised I wanted to take on a field-based role - something that brought me into direct contact with our members on the ground.” 

That decision led to formal SAM training, followed by a structured mentoring program and endorsement. Now with more than a decade of deployments, Leigh’s experience spans everything from rapid initial support during local incidents to complex operations at major campaign fires. 

“Some of my most significant deployments have included the south-west peat fires in 2018 and more recently, large-scale support operations at the Grampians fires during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fire seasons.  

“I’ve managed staging areas out of the Moyston and Dadswells Bridge stations, as well as larger recreational reserves. I also work in a ‘Go-forward’ SAM role, supporting fast-developing incidents before a full incident management team  is established, ensuring resources can be deployed safely and efficiently from the outset.” 

What drives Leigh is more than the operational challenge, it is purpose, connection and pride.  

“The dynamic nature of each incident keeps you on your toes. No two set-ups are the same,” he said. “But more than that, it’s the interaction with members that makes this role so fulfilling. During the Grampians fires this year, we had 300 to 400 personnel passing through Moyston station each day. Seeing brigade members jump in to help with no hesitation is incredibly motivating.  

“One evening at Moyston, Deputy Chief Officers Garry Cook AFSM and Brett Boatman, along with Incident Controller Mark Gunning AFSM, had dinner with our crews at the staging area, listening to their stories from the fireground. It gave everyone – especially some exhausted volunteers – a real morale boost. That kind of leadership presence matters and it reminded us that every role counts.”

Leigh says the SAM role has become one of the most rewarding aspects of his work.

“Being a staging area manager is a demanding role, but you instantly see the impact of your work.

“You’re right there, supporting the people who are giving their all. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I do.”  

Photo of staging area by Ian Wilson

 

Submitted by	News and Media