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

PUAFIR603 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Determine origin and cause of wildfire

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PUAFIR603 - Determine origin and cause of wildfire
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to undertake wildfire scene examination and assessment to determine the path, origin and cause of a wildfire based on fire behaviour, weather conditions, topography and fuel load. It focuses on developing and applying a systematic approach to fire investigation in a wildfire context and is applicable to wildfire fire investigators who are required to determine the origin and cause of a wildfire. It includes coordinating wildfire investigations, securing fire scenes and preserving evidence, identifying and recovering evidence relevant to a wildfire investigation, packaging items of evidence for examination and conducting an analysis of evidence to identify the cause and origin of a wildfire. The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Fire
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: Coordinate wildfire investigation
  • Roles and responsibilities of agencies or organisations and support personnel involved in the wildfire investigation are confirmed
       
Element: Cooperation of personnel from a range of agencies/organisations consistent with their designated roles and responsibilities for a wildfire investigation is achieved
       
Element: Information required by fire investigator from personnel from other agencies or organisations is identified, sought and received
       
Element: Activities of personnel involved in the wildfire investigation are coordinated, in accordance with organisational procedures, to enable an efficient and effective investigation
       
Element: Personal protective clothing and equipment is used, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures appropriate to the wildfire incident are followed
       
Element: Secure fire scene and preserve evidence
  • Legal obligations of fire investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation
       
Element: Methods of scene security prior to examination are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Procedures to monitor and log access to a wildfire scene are identified and applied
       
Element: Strategies for locating, collecting and evidence are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Methods of preservation of evidence at a wildfire scene are implemented
       
Element: Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, destruction or contamination
       
Element: Conduct scene investigation
  • Investigation activities are coordinated with Incident Controller, in accordance with organisational procedures, when active fire management operations are still occurring in relation to the incident
       
Element: Fire incident information, data and records are collected and assessed, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Witness information is obtained
       
Element: Survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and to preserve areas or items of evidential value
       
Element: Effect of fuels, weather and topography on wildfire development and spread are identified
       
Element: Effects of firefighting actions on fire scene and investigation are assessed
       
Element: Fire scene is reviewed, in accordance with organisational procedures, to determine areas of interest and to record observation of factors which may have a bearing on the determination of the origin and cause or development of wildfire
       
Element: Physical indicators related to path of fire or development of wildfire are identified, assessed and recorded
       
Element: Indicators of damage or destruction of assets caused by wildfire are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Cause of fire, based on recognised cause categories, is determined by wildfire investigation
       
Element: Identify and collect evidence to investigate a wildfire
  • Control, comparison and residual samples are identified and extracted, in accordance with organisational procedures requirements
       
Element: Samples are protected to avoid contamination and to ensure continuity of evidence
       
Element: Samples are recorded, collected, packaged and secured, in accordance with organisational continuity of evidence protocols and procedures
       
Element: Procedures for capturing fire scene records are implemented
       
Element: Forensic and physical evidence is interpreted
       
Element: Organisational and legal reports are completed, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Analyse information to determine origin and cause of fire
  • Collected information and evidence is analysed and interpreted
       
Element: Fire origin and cause determination theories are developed and assessed using organisationally approved scientific methods, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Findings are reported and documented, in accordance with organisational procedures and policies
       
Element: Evidence is secured for subsequent action, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Wildfire investigation report is completed and forwarded to relevant authorities and stakeholders
       

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.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

origin and cause determination must include

burn indicators

advancing or head fire

backing or heel fire

lateral or flanking fire

angle and depth of char indicators

ash, cupping and curling indicators

damage differential indicators

die out pattern indicators

foliage or leaf freeze indicators

grass stem indicators

identification of ignition sources

protection indicators

scene observation, interpretation and processing

sooting and staining indicators

transition zone

v-pattern indicators

wildfire behaviour including weather, fuel load and topography

wildfire spread

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
Roles and responsibilities of agencies or organisations and support personnel involved in the wildfire investigation are confirmed 
 
 
 
 
 
Legal obligations of fire investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation 
 
 
 
 
 
Investigation activities are coordinated with Incident Controller, in accordance with organisational procedures, when active fire management operations are still occurring in relation to the incident 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Control, comparison and residual samples are identified and extracted, in accordance with organisational procedures requirements 
 
 
 
 
 
Collected information and evidence is analysed and interpreted 
 
 
 
 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR603 - Determine origin and cause of wildfire
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

PUAFIR603 - Determine origin and cause of wildfire

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: