This has been a long debate for years and was removed from SOP's quite a while ago stating a senior firefigter/officer must crew an appliance before it could leave.The very foundation it was eroding, volunteers ability to respond to an emergency in their community,due to brigade standing orders overiding,turnouts because there was no officer.Thankfully that has changed and the CFS policy is that a minimum of 4 persons are required for turnout in a minimum 2.2 appliance,and at least 2 BA operators when responding to an EMA job,the most senior person on the appliance is the OIC at the time,based on years service,failing that any firefighter willing to stand up to the plate and take charge of the appliance.