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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Receive and report details of wildfire
  2. Prepare to respond to fire
  3. Proceed to fire
  4. Protect people
  5. Combat wildfire
  6. Conduct mop-up and patrol activities
  7. Recover and maintain equipment

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

wildfire control and suppression back burning use of wildfire control tools and equipment

map reading and interpretation

detection of hot spots stags

unsecured wildfire perimeter

mopup activities

Required Knowledge

Firefighting Protocols

organisation policy direct indirect parallel attack wet dry firefighting backburning ground aerial control lines and firebreaks defensive firefighting tactics

Fire attack procedures

standard operating procedures reporting patrol mopup briefingsinstructions identification of cause

Safety

organisation firstaid requirements fireground hazards procedures for dealing with injury safety near vehicles and machines briefings team work

Fuel and its impact on fire behaviour

moisture content quantity type arrangement and distribution size drought effects curing

Fire behaviour

rate of spread flame height and intensity spotting fire development junction zones

Topography and its impact on fire behaviour

slope aspect physical features turbulence

Weather factors which impact on fire behaviour

wind direction and speed

wind changes

temperature

relative humidity

atmospheric stability

Evidence Required

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

For this unit it is essential that competence be demonstrated by

anticipating and reacting to changing wildfire behaviour

observing and reacting to weather behaviour

undertaking dry wildfire control activity

use of extinguishing media

maintaining health and safety of self other workers and people in the wildfire area

completing mopup and patrol

reading maps and navigation

Consistency in performance

Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

A combination of oral or written presentation observation on the job andor in a range of simulated environments

Specific resources for assessment

access to controlled fires

availability of wildfire control equipment

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.


Range Statement

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.

Types of wildfire must include

ground surface and crown fire

Fuel types may include

grass

crop

forest

plantation

heath

Fuel features which will impact on fire development must include

type

size

arrangement/distribution

quantity

seasonal effects

effects of drought

moisture content

Wildfire extinguishing media must include

water

and may also include

wetting agents

Class A foam

fire suppressants (short and long term)/earth

retardants

Wildfire extinguishing equipment must include

tanker

hand tool

hose and small gear

pump

and may also include

aircraft

ropes and lines

knap sack

chainsaw

Types of firefighting strategies must include

offensive strategy

defensive strategy

combined strategy

direct attack

parallel attack

indirect attack

flank attack

combination attack

reconnaissance

mop-up

patrol

Access methods may include by

vehicle

aircraft

boat

foot

Topographic factors which may impact on fire development must include

elevation

slope

wind turbulence

local wind effects

botanical effects

aspect

Weather factors which may impact on fire development must include

wind direction and speed

wind changes

temperature

relative humidity

atmospheric stability

cold fronts

local effects

adiabatic winds

katabatic winds

sea breezes

land breezes

Personal protective clothing and equipment must include

turnout uniform and gloves

eye protection

hearing protection

respiratory protection

and may also include

protective hoods

accessories as per organisational standards

Ancillary activities may include

provision and transport of food, water, fuel and equipment of an incident

aircraft operations

working with earthmoving equipment

Navigational aids must include

maps

compass

and may also include

geographical information systems

global positioning satellites

aerial photographs

Wildfire hazards must include

heat-related illness (heat exhaustion and dehydration)

fatigue

smoke inhalation

burns

sprain or fracture

trips/falls

snake or insect bite

lack of visibility

falling branches and trees

rolling objects

falling objects

manual handling

disorientation

water bombing operation

environmental

Fire behaviour is evidenced by

rate of spread

flame height and intensity

spotting

fire development

terrain, topography

fuel load and arrangement

weather conditions - winds, fire whirls