Application
This unit applies to personnel responsible for preparing, conducting and evaluating simple and complex prescribed burns on public and private land.
Prerequisites
PUAFIR303B Suppress wildfire
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare to burn | 1.1 Simple and complex burn operations are identified in accordance with organisational procedures, legislative and regulatory requirements. 1.2 Contingency plan is reviewed based on local conditions at the time of burn and communicated to all personnel. 1.3 Permits are obtained in accordance with organisational procedures, legislative and regulatory requirements. 1.4 Burn notifications and plans are issued to person/s or organisations in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative requirements. 1.5 Resourcerequirements are identified with reference to burn plan. 1.6 Control lines are specified and prepared in accordance with organisational procedures. 1.7 Assets are protected 1.8 Required preparatory hazard mitigation and asset protection works programs are carried out in line with the plan. 1.9 Weather conditions are monitored. |
2. Conduct burn | 2.1 Day of burn notifications are issued. 2.2 Pre burn checks are conducted. 2.3 Resources are gathered and personnel briefed and deployed in accordance with burn plan. 2.4 Lightingtechniques, patterns and lighting sequence are implemented in accordance with plan or organisational procedures. 2.5 Burning is monitored to ensure safety and operational changes are made as required. 2.6 Contingencies are implemented in accordance with burn plan as required for the duration of the burn. 2.7 Burn records are kept in accordance with organisational procedures. 2.8 Burn operations are concluded and burn security is implemented in accordance with organisational requirements. 2.9 Crews are debriefed and resources released from the burn. 2.10 Incidents are reported and investigated in accordance with organisational procedures. |
3. Conduct post burn activities | 3.1 Outcomes of the burn are assessed and reported. 3.2 Variations from burn plan are reported in accordance with organisational procedures. 3.3 Restoration and rehabilitationworks are identified and/or carried out in accordance with organisational requirements. 3.4 Prescribed burn activities are recorded in accordance with organisational procedures. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
apply fuel sampling methods apply ignition patterns and techniques conduct briefings and debriefings establish control lines for prescribed burns interpret a complex prescribed burn plan interpret existing and forecast weather conditions interpret fire behaviour conditions manage teams monitor patrol activities monitor the burn plan for contingencies use fire prediction tools |
Required Knowledge |
fire prediction tools and their use fuel sampling methods ignition patterns and techniques legislative and organisational policy and procedures for conducting a prescribed burn legislative, regulatory and organisational authorisations required for conducting a burn procedures for monitoring prescribed burns and securing burn resource requirements safe work practices seasonal restrictions on prescribed burns types of prescribed burns |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: implement a complex burn plan for a designated area conduct an effective operational briefing and debriefing conduct an effective burn, utilising the appropriate resources and record actions taken conclude activities once the burn is completed Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated in an operational environment. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Evidence collected from undertaking a complex prescribed burn is required. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: complex prescribed burn plans fire management plans lighting equipment suppression equipment lighting and suppression crews |
Method of assessment | In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook. Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions |
Range Statement
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. | |
Simple burn | completed in one shift involves minimal variation of fuels and terrain low intensity low potential impact on assets low risk small area |
Complex burn may be characterised | involvement of a variety of fuels and terrain medium to large areas moderate to high risk range of fire intensity significant potential impact on assets |
Burn operations must include: | simple burns complex burns |
Contingency plan | command structure dealing with escapes resource requirements safety considerations (such as escape routes and safety zones) resource breakdowns special resources/secondary control lines wind changes |
Local conditions at the time of burn | actual or anticipated changes in conditions weather conditions (temperature, relative humidity, wind, atmospheric stability, drought index, weather forecasts, fire danger index) |
Burn notifications | verbal notification written notification |
Person/s or organisations may include: | People or organisations who: may have adjacent land to which a burn could spread have an interest in managing the consequences of a burn have an interest in specific assets have an interest in the area to be burned may be concerned by evidence of a burn |
Resource requirements | contingency resources crews for aircraft ground support crews for control and suppression crews for ground ignition equipment and supplies logistical support navigators, bombardiers for aerial ignition tankers other vehicles |
Assets | area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna buildings camps or recreational areas crops cultural values historic relics machinery other property plantations research plots, reference areas utilities (power and telephone lines, water supply structures, communications towers) |
Weather conditions | relative humidity temperature wind |
Lighting techniques and patterns | contour lighting echelon grid line multi-line spot |
Lighting sequence may include: | fuel hazard slope time of day wind direction |
Monitoring burn | fire development and spread flame height fuel moisture content observations predictions rate of spread recording safety consideration smoke development weather observation |
Conclusion and burn security activities | mitigating hazards for public safety such as checking trees for falling limbs mopping-up/blacking out patrolling burn area reopening roads |
Outcomes of the burn | achievement of burn objectives escapes external impacts levels of scorch percentage of area burnt |
Restoration and rehabilitation works | restoring areas disturbed by machinery control lines repairing fences re-vegetation of damaged areas vehicle tracks |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.