This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to prepare and conduct complex prescribed burns, in accordance with approved burn plans.

A prescribed burn is the controlled application of fire under specified environmental conditions to a predetermined area and at the time, intensity and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives. An approved prescribed burn plan includes a map identifying the area to be burned and incorporates the specifications and conditions under which the operation is to be conducted.

Complex prescribed burns are characterised by moderate to high risk, a range of fire intensity, being in medium to large areas, having significant potential impact on assets and involving a variety of fuels and terrain. A burn operation may involve a large number of resources requiring the establishment of a formal management and support structure. A prescribed burn may require several separate ignitions (ground and/or aerial) possibly over several days. It may have several high value assets requiring complex protection actions.

The unit applies to personnel responsible for preparing, conducting and evaluating complex prescribed burns on public and private land.

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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to burn

1.1

Complex prescribed burn operations are identified and undertaken, in accordance with approved prescribed burn plan, burn objectives, organisational procedures, and legislative and regulatory requirements

1.2

Permits are obtained, in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative and regulatory requirements

1.3

Burn notifications and plans are issued to personnel or organisations, in accordance with prescribed burn plan, organisational procedures and legislative requirements

1.4

Control lines, including secondary control lines are specified and prepared, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.5

Prescribed burn plan, operational hazards and risks to safety of people, property, assets, ecology and environment are identified and risk mitigation works completed

1.6

Forecast weather conditions are monitored, recorded and assessed, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.7

Fuel conditions are monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.8

Resource requirements are confirmed with reference to burn plan and anticipated conditions

1.9

Forecast weather conditions are monitored throughout prescribed complex burn

2

Conduct burn

2.1

Burn notifications are issued, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2

Pre-burn checks are conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3

Local weather conditions for day of burn are monitored and contingency arrangements actioned and communicated accordingly

2.4

Resources are gathered and personnel briefed, in accordance with prescribed burn plan and contingency arrangements

2.5

Burn ignition strategies and tactics are implemented, in accordance with prescribed burn plan and organisational procedures including lighting techniques for ground and aerial ignition, as relevant to the specific burn, lighting patterns and lighting sequence

2.6

Burning is monitored, patrol activities are conducted and operational changes made, as required

2.7

Contingencies are implemented, as required, in accordance with prescribed burn plan

2.8

Burn documentation is kept, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.9

Burn operations are concluded and burn security is implemented in accordance with organisational requirements

2.10

Crews are debriefed and resources released from the burn

2.11

Incidents are reported and investigated in accordance with organisational procedures

3

Conduct post burn activities

3.1

Outcomes of burn are assessed and reported against burn objectives, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Variations from burn plan are reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3

Restoration and rehabilitation works are identified and carried out, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4

Complex prescribed burn records are submitted, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

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.

prescribed burn plan must include

an approved plan for conduct of prescribed burning

map identifying the area to be burned

specifications and conditions under which operation is to be conducted

burn objectives must include one or more of the following

asset protection

biodiversity protection

community protection

habitat management

hazard reduction

management of cultural sites and activities

protection of fire sensitive ecological communities

vegetation management

operational hazards must include one or more of the following

adverse terrain or weather conditions

crew size

falling trees and limbs

hazardous materials

ignition methods

plant

road traffic

vegetation

environmental and ecological risks must include three or more of the following

impact of smoke

impact of use of any chemical fire suppressants

impact on native flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species

impact on soil

impact on water quality or supply

contingency arrangements must include

actions to take in the event of unexpected weather

command structure

dealing with escapes

resource breakdowns

resource requirements

safety considerations including escape routes and safety zones

special resources and/or secondary control lines

wind changes

personnel or organisations must include one or more of the following

personnel or organisations who

have an interest in managing the consequences of a burn

have an interest in preventing health impacts from smoke e.g. nursing homes, health departments

have an interest in specific assets

have an interest in the area to be burned

may be adversely affected by the burn

may be concerned by evidence of a burn

may have adjacent land to which a burn could spread

resource requirements must include one or more of the following

contingency resources

crews for

aircraft ground support

control and suppression

ground ignition

equipment and supplies

logistical support

tankers and other vehicles

burn ignition strategies and tactics must include:

contingency arrangements

fire behaviour to be achieved

ignition methods, lighting patterns, sequencing and timing of ignition

lighting techniques for ground and aerial ignition must include

aerial drip torch

aerial incendiaries

hand held of vehicle mounted propelled incendiaries

wind and/or waterproof matches

lighting patterns must include

contour lighting

echelon

grid

line

multi-line

spot

lighting sequence must include

fuel arrangement

fuel moisture

slope

time of day

wind direction

monitoring complex prescribed burn must include

fire development, shape and spread

flame height

fuel moisture content

predictions

rate of spread

recording

safety considerations

smoke development

weather observations

conclusion and complex prescribed burn security activities must include

mitigating hazards for public safety

mopping up and blacking out

patrolling burn area

reopening roads

transfer of responsibility procedures

outcomes of the complex prescribed burn must include

achievement of burn objectives

escapes

external impacts

levels of scorch

percentage of area burnt

reporting and storage of burn documentation

safety of people must include

all those involved with burn implementation

any in areas adjacent to burn area

any permanently or temporarily in burn area

impact of smoke on vulnerable communities near burn area

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