The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit/s

PUAFIR303B Suppress wildfire

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare to burn

1.1 Burn plan is identified in accordance with the organisational procedures and legislative requirements

1.2 A contingency plan is developed based on local conditions at the time of burn and communicated to all personnel

1.3 Permits are obtained in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4 Burn notifications are issued in accordance with organisational procedures

1.5 Resource requirements are identified

1.6 Control lines are specified and prepared in accordance with organisational procedures

1.7 Assets are protected in accordance with organisational procedures

1.8 Weather conditions are monitored

2. Conduct burn

2.1 Resources are gathered and deployed

2.2 Day of burn notifications are issued

2.3 Pre burn checks are conducted

2.4 Lighting is conducted in accordance with plan or organisational procedures

2.5 Burning is monitored and operational changes are made as required

2.6 Records are kept in accordance with organisational procedures

2.7 Burn operations are concluded

3. Conduct post burn activities

3.1 Outcomes of the burn are assessed and reported

3.2 Variations from the burn plan are reported in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3 Restoration and rehabilitation is carried out in accordance with organisational requirements

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

Required Skills

developing a prescribed burn

conducting high and low intensity prescribed burns

establishing control lines for prescribed burns

developing a contingency plan

monitoring the burn

undertaking patrol activities

Required Knowledge

legislative, organisational policy and procedures for conducting a prescribed burn

types of prescribed burns

seasonal restrictions on prescribed burns

authorisations required for conducting a burn

high and low intensity prescribed burns

ignition patterns and techniques

developing a prescription

resource requirements

procedures for monitoring prescribed burns and securing burn area

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

It is essential for this unit that competence is demonstrated in:

the preparation of burn plans for a designated area

the effective conduct of a burn, utilising the appropriate resources and record action taken

follow up activities once the burn is completed

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

Evidence of competence may be demonstrated on the job and/or in a simulated environment

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a range of controlled or simulated fires

lighting equipment

Guidance information for assessment

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

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.

Assets to be protected

buildings

historic relics

camp or recreational areas

utilities (power and telephone lines, water supply structures, communications towers)

research plots, reference areas

area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna

crops

plantations

other property

Notifications may be given to persons or organisations who

have an interest in the area to be burned

have an interest in adjacent land to which a burn could spread

have an interest in managing the consequences of a burn

have an interest in specific assets

may be concerned by evidence of a burn

Notification plans are required for

private land

public land

Weather conditions to be monitored

temperature, relative humidity, wind, atmospheric stability

Resources may include

experienced crew for ground ignition, trained navigators, bombardiers for aerial ignition, equipment and supplies, tankers, other vehicles, equipment, back-up, logistical support

Lighting techniques and patterns may include

ignition method

lighting pattern

ignition spacing

Burn operations may include

low intensity burns

high intensity burns

Monitoring of burning may include

observations

predictions

recording

fuel moisture content

wind speed and direction

flame height

rate of spread

smoke development

Conclusion of burning operations

patrol or burn area

mop up

black out

Contingency plans for escapes include

reasons for escape

special resources/secondary control lines

command structure

Local conditions at time of burn may include

wind strength and direction

temperature

changes in conditions

anticipated changes

Restoration and rehabilitation may be required for

control lines

vehicle tracks

areas disturbed by tracked machinery

revegetating damaged areas

repairing fences

This unit contains employability skills.