This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to provide an analysis of the behaviour and spread of a wildfire and to prepare suppression options that are appropriate for expected fire behaviour.

The unit applies to personnel required to provide fire behaviour and spread predictions for consideration by the incident management team and state control centre.

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

Analyse factors that canimpact awildfire and develop predictions

1.1

Information on current and future fire behaviour and spread is collected from a range of sources and is recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.2

Analysis is undertaken of fuels, fuel assessment, weather analysis and the effects of topography on fire behaviour

1.3

Relevant site information is sought form data bases or experts, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4

Appropriate fire prediction tools and references are utilised in the analysis of fire behaviour and spread

1.5

Fire behaviour and spread predictions are developed, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.6

Predicted fire behaviour is validated against actual observations and intelligence as it becomes available

2

Develop and maintainmaps and data

2.1

Required map information and data regarding predicted fire spread and behaviour is prepared

2.2

Quality information is provided within required timeframes for fire control planning

2.3

Key assumptions and limitations affecting the predictions are identified and reported

2.4

Fire behaviour and spread predictions are updated as new weather and fire information becomes available

3

Analyse and communicate risks

3.1

Location and timing of potential future impact of the fire is predicted

3.2

Key risks of fire to human, economic and environmental assets are considered, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3

Fire and weather are monitored to assess if and or when fire behaviour is likely to change

3.4

Identified risks and impacts are communicated to relevant personnel

4

Contribute to the analysis offire suppression options

4.1

Participate in preparation of options analysis for consideration by the Incident Management Team (IMT)

4.2

Relevant time frames and fire behaviour thresholds for fire suppression strategies and tactics are considered

4.3

Predicted changes to or variations in fire behaviour conditions due to fuel, weather, topography and fire size are reviewed and considered

4.4

Advice and analysis are provided to the IMT, in accordance with organisational procedures, to assist in developing strategies including fall back strategies

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.

firefighting strategies must include

defensive strategies - community and asset protection

offensive strategies - direct, indirect and parallel attack

firefighting tactics must include

aerial suppression

back burning and burning out

control line construction - hand and machine

direct application of firefighting media

Fire

Fire