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

PUAFIR604 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Determine origin and cause of structure fire

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PUAFIR604 - Determine origin and cause of structure fire
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to manage the inspection and assessment of a structure fire to determine origin and cause. The unit focuses developing and applying a systematic approach to fire investigation in a structured environment.It includes originating structure fire investigations, securing fire scenes and preserving evidence. It also includes the evaluation and examination of fire debris, identifying and recovering evidence relevant to a fire investigation, packaging items of evidence for examination and conducting a thorough analysis of fire behaviour, development and travel as well as gathering evidence to establish fire cause. Application of this unit is relevant to fire investigators who are required to determine the origin and cause of a structure fires.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 structure fire investigation
  • Cooperation with a range of agencies/organisations personnel in the conduct of the investigation is consistent with organisational procedures and designated roles and responsibilities for a structure fire investigation
       
Element: Information required by fire investigator from a range of agencies/organisations personnel is identified, sought and recorded
       
Element: Personal protective clothing and equipment is used, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Secure fire scene and preserve evidence
  • Legal obligations of fire scene 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 fire scene are identified and applied, as required
       
Element: Strategies for locating, collecting and processing evidence are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Methods of preservation of evidence at a fire scene are implemented
       
Element: Scene is protected from unnecessary damage, spoliation, destruction or contamination
       
Element: Conduct scene investigation
  • Investigation activities are coordinated with Incident Controller, in accordance with organisational procedures, when active fire management activities are still occurring
       
Element: External and internal survey of scene is conducted to identify hazards and action is taken to mitigate risks
       
Element: Scene is examined, externally and internally, to determine areas of interest and to record observations which may have a bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire
       
Element: Areas or items of evidence that have a potential bearing on the origin, cause or development of a structure fire are identified
       
Element: Effects of building construction and other factors relevant to fire development and spread are identified
       
Element: Nature and reactivity of materials involved in fire cause are identified
       
Element: Site indicators of fire spread with other sources of evidence are examined
       
Element: Witness information is obtained and recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures and rules of evidence
       
Element: Burn patterns and effects of fire suppression are identified and assessed
       
Element: Area or likely point of origin and possible cause of structure fire are determined, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Origin and cause determination theories are assessed and tested, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Collect and analyse evidence from a fire scene
  • Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources
       
Element: Appropriate collection and packaging techniques are adopted, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Potential for destruction, spoliation and contamination of evidence is eliminated, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Integrity and continuity of collected exhibits is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Evidence from fire scene is analysed and processed using a range of recording and digital multimedia
       
Element: Fire origin and cause determination theories are developed and assessed
       
Element: Witness accounts are reviewed against theories, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Fire origin and cause are determined
       
Element: Findings are reported and documented, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Evidence is secured for subsequent action, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Investigation report is completed and forwarded to relevant authorities and stakeholders, in accordance with organisational procedures
       

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 patterns - v/patterns, inverted v/patterns, hour glass and circular shaped patterns

identification of ignition sources

scene interpretation and processing

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
Cooperation with a range of agencies/organisations personnel in the conduct of the investigation is consistent with organisational procedures and designated roles and responsibilities for a structure fire investigation 
 
 
Legal obligations of fire scene investigators are adhered to throughout the investigation 
 
 
 
 
 
Investigation activities are coordinated with Incident Controller, in accordance with organisational procedures, when active fire management activities are still occurring 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appropriate sampling areas and items are identified using required sampling equipment and resources 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR604 - Determine origin and cause of structure fire
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

PUAFIR604 - Determine origin and cause of structure fire

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: