Assessor Resource

PUAFIR414
Interpret and analyse fire weather information

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to personnel working in a Situation Unit at an incident who are required to provide weather predictions to the planning function.

This unit covers the competency required to assess and interpret weather information in relation to its impact on fire behaviour.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

provide (for use by the Incident Management Team to plan the control of a wildfire) an accurate analysis and projection of weather affecting a local area and the probable impact on fire behaviour.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in actual and/or simulated workplace environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

range of actual or simulated conditions

range of sources of information related to weather conditions and fire behaviour

agency templates for weather recording

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

access weather recording data, weather maps and web-based weather products

implement strategic risk analysis techniques

interpret fire weather source data

interpret topographic maps in order to assess effects on weather

manage data and maintain accurate records

use and interpret weather maps

Required Knowledge

effects of topography on weather and fire behaviour

fire behaviour factors

observation, analysis and interpretation of weather signs

sources of data relating to weather and fire behaviour

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Sources of relevant weather information may include:

air or ground observations

automated weather stations (fixed and portable)

Bureau of Meteorology websites and/or fire weather experts

emergency services and land managers

fire ground/operational personnel

media (newspapers, radio, internet)

persons with local knowledge

Meteorological data may include:

aerological diagrams

air temperature

barometric pressure

dewpoint

lightning

precipitation

radar images

relative humidity

satellite images

snowfall

synoptic charts

weather forecasts and warnings

weather model guidance

wind (speed, direction, gust)

Field observations may include:

cloud (type and cover)

dew point

fire behaviour (rate of spread, flame height and spotting)

fuel moisture content

temperature and relative humidity

wind speed, direction and gust

Weather forecasts may include:

district forecasts

fire weather forecasts

special/spot weather forecasts

temperature and relative humidity

warnings (fire weather, severe weather, thunderstorm)

Local weather influencesmost likely to affect fire weather conditions may include:

altitude /elevation

bodies of water

distance from coast

dry air subsidence inversion

Foehn winds

katabatic and anabatic winds

sea breezes and land breezes

slope and aspect

wind channelling

Weather analysis may include:

atmospheric stability

Bureau of Meteorology products and tools

diurnal cycles

drought indices

El Niño and La Niña effects

fire danger indices

Haines index

long-term weather cycles

seasonal cycles

smoke dispersion

southern oscillation index

temperature inversions

wind changes

Weather signs may include:

changes in air temperature

changes in barometric pressure changes

changes in wind direction and velocity

cloud formation and patterns

cold fronts

smoke behaviour from other recent fires in the area

thunderstorms

Fire behaviour may include:

fire perimeter

fire size/growth/shape

fire whirls

flame characteristics (height and depth)

heat output and intensity

junction zones

rate of spread

smoke

spotting

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Sources of relevant weather information are identified and accessed. 
Site information is sought from relevant databases or experts. 
General meteorological data is obtained. 
Field observations are obtained and monitored. 
Meteorological data is interpreted in terms of likely current weather conditions for an area. 
Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts and warnings are interpreted in terms of future weather conditions for an area. 
Field weather observations that are relevant to weather predictions are assessed. 
Local weather influencesmost likely to affect fire weather conditions are identified. 
Weather forecasts are validated against field weather observations as they become available. 
Weather forecasts are evaluated in terms of their effect on fire behaviour. 
Analysis is conducted using consideration of weather analysis, weather signs, local weather influencesand the likely impact on fire behaviour. 
Planning the control of the incident is facilitated through quality, timeliness and presentation of information. 
Fire behaviour and weather conditions are monitored and potential changes to fire predictions are assessed and reported. 
Analysis and advice are provided to Situation Unit and Planning Officer . 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR414 - Interpret and analyse fire weather information
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

PUAFIR414 - Interpret and analyse fire weather information

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: