Vehicle Identifier Stickers

In regional Western Australia, emergency incidents are often supported by local farmers and landowners using privately owned vehicles, even if they are not members of a registered fire brigade. To help quickly identify approved individuals and vehicles requiring access to an incident area, DFES recommends the use of Vehicle Identifier stickers. These stickers are placed on the lower left-hand corner of a vehicle’s windscreen and indicate that the vehicle belongs to a person authorised by the Local Government to assist during emergency operations.

Applicants issued with a Vehicle Identifier sticker must agree to a number of conditions as part of the application process, including:

• complying with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act 1974;
• wearing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective clothing at all times; and
• ensuring the vehicle’s arrival and departure from an incident is properly recorded.

The sticker does not classify the vehicle as an official firefighting appliance. Instead, it identifies the vehicle as one that may be providing operational support at an incident or transporting brigade personnel through a Vehicle Control Point for deployment purposes, such as travelling to a local brigade station or joining an active firefighting crew.

Control over access to the incident ground always remains with the Incident Controller, who has the authority to approve, restrict, or revoke entry as required. Possession of a Vehicle Identifier sticker does not guarantee automatic access. However, the sticker helps the Incident Controller, WA Police, or traffic management personnel quickly recognise that the vehicle owner has been briefed on the procedures outlined in the Guidelines for Operating Private Equipment at Fires booklet and has agreed to comply with the associated operational conditions.