Fire Response Vehicle Identifier Stickers

Vehicle Identifier Stickers

In regional WA, emergency response is often supplemented by local farmers/landowners with private vehicles who may not be members of local fire brigades. In order to provide timely identification of private vehicles and persons suitable for access on the incident ground, DFES recommend the Vehicle Identifier sticker.

Vehicle Identifier stickers are affixed to the lower left corner of the windscreen of a vehicle to identify it as a private vehicle owned by a person who is authorised by Local Government to assist with operations.

The person being issued a vehicle identifier sticker must agree to these conditions when they make their application, most importantly agreeing that:

  • It is the responsibility of the owner and driver of the vehicle to comply with the Road Traffic Act 1974;
  • Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing will be worn at all times; and
  • The driver will ensure that the vehicle’s presence at an incident is recorded on both arrival and departure.

The vehicle identifier sticker does not infer that a vehicle is a fire fighting vehicle, but that it may be assisting or supporting an incident, or to enable passage of brigade members through a Vehicle Control Point for the purpose of deployment to the incident (e.g. to travel to a local brigade station or to crew an appliance deployed to the incident).

It is the Incident Controller who determines and manages access to and from the incident ground. There is no automatic right of entry, and the Incident Controller can override access for vehicles with the identifier. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the presence of an identifier will enable the Incident Controller (or WA Police/traffic management personnel acting on behalf of the IC) to quickly assess the vehicle in the knowledge that the owner has been instructed to have a good understanding of the procedures outlined in the Guidelines for Operating Private Equipment at Fires booklet and has agreed to the conditions on the sticker application form.

How to apply

  1. Please read the Guidelines for Operating Private Equipment at Fires.
  2. Ensure you complete the checklists on pages 45 – 47 before submitting an application form.
  3. You must complete the online Rural Fire Awareness Course which you can access here.
  4. Please keep a copy of the email you receive when you complete the online course and attach it to your application.
  5. Fill out the Fire Response Vehicle Identifier Application and Indemnity Form.
  6. Submit your application to shire@carnamah.wa.gov.au.

The vehicle identifier stickers are colour coded and have a two-year life span, valid from the 1st of October of each even year, through to the 30th of September of each even year.