Mobilization and staging area

According to the National Incident Management System (NIMS), a Mobilization Area or Staging Area is one of five predesignated temporary facilities. Staging areas are established for temporary location of available emergency responder resources. A Staging Area can be any location in which personnel, supplies, and equipment can be temporarily housed or parked while awaiting operational assignment. Staging Areas may include temporary feeding, fueling, and sanitation services for emergency crews like Wildland firefighters.

Staging areas are established by the Operations Section Chief to enable positioning of and accounting for resources not immediately assigned. The Operations Section Chief assigns a manager for each Staging Area, who checks in all incoming resources, dispatches resources at the Operations Section Chief’s request, and requests Logistics Section Support, as necessary, for resources located in the Staging Area.

Personnel check in with the Resources Unit at the Staging Area, while supplies and equipment are checked in with the Supply Unit. If neither of these functions is activated, resources report to the Staging Area Manager for direction.

NIMS Predesignated Facilities and Areas

 * Incident Command Post (ICP)
 * Incident Base
 * Camp, or fire camp
 * Mobilization and staging area
 * Helibase and supporting Helispot and Drop Point