Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

PUAFIR512 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PUAFIR512 - Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire
Description This unit covers the competency required to provide an analysis of the spread and behaviour of an intermediate wildfire and to prepare fire suppression options that are appropriate for the expected fire behaviour. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to personnel required to provide fire behaviour and spread predictions for consideration by the Incident Management Team.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Analyse factors impacting on the spread and behaviour of an intermediate wildfire and develop an incident prediction
  • Information on the current and future fire spread and fire behaviour is collected from a range of sources and recorded.
  • Analysis is conducted using consideration offuels and fuel assessment, weather analysis, the effects of topography and likely resultant fire behaviour.
  • Fire prediction toolsand references are effectively utilised in the analysis of fire spread and behaviour.
  • Results of the fire behaviour analysis are validated against fire observations as they become available.
       
Element: Develop maps and data, and maintain associated information regarding projected fire spread and behaviour
  • Necessary map information and data is prepared.
  • Fire spread and behaviour projections are developed in a manner appropriate to the incident.
  • Use of the information in planning the control of the incident is facilitated through quality, timeliness and presentation of the information.
  • Fire spread and fire behaviour projections are updated as new weather and fire information becomes available.
       
Element: Analyse and communicate key risks of the projected fire spread and behaviour
  • Site information is sought from agency databases or experts.
  • Area and timing of potential future impact of the fire is projected.
  • Key risks of the fire to human, economic and environmental assets are considered.
  • Fire and weather are monitored to assess if or when fire danger is likely to suddenly increase.
       
Element: Prepare and analyse a range of fire suppression options consistent with incident objectives
  • Range of options with an analysis of probable level of success and consequences of failure is prepared for consideration by the Incident Management Team.
  • Time available and the threshold fire behaviour for which each strategy and tactic is likely to be effective are considered.
  • Projected changes to or variation in fire behaviour conditions (due to fuel, weather, topography, fire size) are considered.
  • Advice and analysis are provided to the Incident Management Team to assist in development of strategies and fallback strategies.
       


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 an intermediate wildfire):

accurate analysis and projection of fire spread and fire behaviour, indicating probable and possible scenarios

analysis of a range of appropriate fire suppression options

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in actual or simulated wildfire incidents.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in a range of actual or simulated wildfire incidents.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

range of actual or simulated fires

range of sources of information related to fire spread and behaviour

agency templates for fire behaviour prediction

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, assignment, 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 and interpret weather products

implement strategic risk analysis techniques

interpret fire spread source data

manage data and maintain accurate records

understand and interpret topographic maps in order to plot potential fire spread

use fire prediction tools and suppression guides

Required Knowledge

categories of risk

conditions suitable for and the limitations of fire suppression strategies

effects of topography on fire behaviour

fire behaviour factors

fire suppression strategies and tactics

fire weather

fuel and fuel assessment

sources of data relating to 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.

Fire behaviour must 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

Sources may include:

air or ground observations

automated weather stations

Bureau of Meteorology websites and/or fire weather experts

fire history maps

fuel type maps

fireground information, operational situation reports and infrared scans

geographic information systems (GIS) and agency site-related databases

land managers

persons with local knowledge

Consideration of fuels and fuel assessment may include:

bark fine fuels

canopy fine fuels

coarse fuels

coarse standing fuels

coarse surface fuels

dead course fuel moisture

dead fine fuel moisture

elevated fine fuels

fine fuels

fuel and fire behaviour

live fuel moisture

moisture content assessment

near surface fine fuels

surface fine fuels

total fuel load

Weather analysis may include:

atmospheric stability

Bureau of Meteorology products and tools

calculation of fire danger ratings

cold fronts

diurnal cycles

droughts

Foehn winds

Katabatic and Anabatic winds

long-term weather cycles

relative humidity and dew point temperature

sea breezes and land breezes

seasonal cycles

short-term and local weather effects

temperature

temperature inversions

wind gustiness and directional variation

wind speed and direction

Eeffects of topography on fire behaviour must include:

acceleration effects

dry upper winds – mixing/range effect

drought index and drought factor

fuel distribution

elevation

rockiness/continuity

land form (channelling)

slope and aspect

Fire prediction toolsand references may include:

CSIRO (Mcarthur) forest fire danger meter

CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire danger meter

CSIRO (Mcarthur) grassland fire spread meter

Vesta fire model

WA forest fire behaviour tables

overall fuel hazard guide (DSE, 1999)

other fuel specific fire behaviour prediction systems (such as buttongrass in Tasmania, mallee-heath model, spinifex model)

Map information and data may include:

maps of fire spread, estimated at time intervals as required by the incident management team, with separate mapping for probable and possible scenarios

narrative regarding limitations, assumptions, prediction uncertainties and other comment to assist in the interpretation of the data

victoria fire behaviour estimates

Risks may include:

operational risk

public safety risk

risks to public and private assets

economic risk

environmental risk

legal risk

technical risk

political risk

Human, economic and environmental assets may include:

areas of environmental or conservation value

areas of tourism value

crops and farm assets

historic sites

indigenous cultural sites

key infrastructure such as a major bridge or power transmission lines

plantations

private or public buildings

towns or settlements

water catchments

Strategy may include:

offensive strategies:

direct attack

indirect attack

parallel attack

defensive strategies:

community and asset protection

Tactic may include:

aerial suppression

back-burning/burning out

control line construction (hand, machine)

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
Information on the current and future fire spread and fire behaviour is collected from a range of sources and recorded. 
Analysis is conducted using consideration offuels and fuel assessment, weather analysis, the effects of topography and likely resultant fire behaviour. 
Fire prediction toolsand references are effectively utilised in the analysis of fire spread and behaviour. 
Results of the fire behaviour analysis are validated against fire observations as they become available. 
Necessary map information and data is prepared. 
Fire spread and behaviour projections are developed in a manner appropriate to the incident. 
Use of the information in planning the control of the incident is facilitated through quality, timeliness and presentation of the information. 
Fire spread and fire behaviour projections are updated as new weather and fire information becomes available. 
Site information is sought from agency databases or experts. 
Area and timing of potential future impact of the fire is projected. 
Key risks of the fire to human, economic and environmental assets are considered. 
Fire and weather are monitored to assess if or when fire danger is likely to suddenly increase. 
Range of options with an analysis of probable level of success and consequences of failure is prepared for consideration by the Incident Management Team. 
Time available and the threshold fire behaviour for which each strategy and tactic is likely to be effective are considered. 
Projected changes to or variation in fire behaviour conditions (due to fuel, weather, topography, fire size) are considered. 
Advice and analysis are provided to the Incident Management Team to assist in development of strategies and fallback strategies. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR512 - Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire
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Assessment Record Sheet

PUAFIR512 - Develop and analyse the behaviour and suppression options for a Level 2 wildfire

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