Elements and Performance Criteria

Types of wildfire must include
ground, surface, crown

Types of fuel may include
grass
crop
forest
heath plantation
scrub

Fuel features must include
type
size
arrangement/distribution
quantity
moisture content
topography
local fire conditions

Weather factors must include
variations to wind speed and direction
relative humidity
temperature
atmospheric stability

Wildfire extinguishing media must include
water
and may also include
wetting agent
Class A foam
fire suppressants (short and long term)
earth
retardants

Wildfire extinguishing equipment must include
tanker
hand tools
hose and small gear
pump
and may also include
aircraft
ropes and lines
knap sack
chainsaw

Types of firefighting strategies must include
offensive strategy
defensive strategy
flank attack
combined strategy
direct attack
parallel attack
indirect attack
combination attack

Wildfire hazards must include
heat related illness
fatigue
smoke inhalation
burns
sprain or fracture
snake or insect bite
falling branches/trees
manual handling
trips/falls
disorientation
environmental
lack of visibility
water bombing operations

Variations in topography must include
elevation
slope
aspect
landscape features

Access may be gained by
vehicle
aircraft
boat
foot

Information about access must be received by
radio/phone
personal contact
and may also include
map reference

Personal protective clothing and equipment must include
turnout uniform and gloves
eye protection
hearing protection
respiratory protection
and may also include
protective hoods
accessories as per organisational standards

Ancillary activities may include
provision/transportation of food, water and equipment for an incident
working with earth moving equipment such as bulldozer, grader, tractor with blade

Critical aspects of evidence
For this unit it is essential that competence be demonstrated by:
reacting to changing wildfire behaviour due to changes in weather, topography and fuel conditions
participating in dry wildfire control
use of extinguishing media in wildfire control
maintaining health and safety of self, other workers and people in the immediate work area
participating in mop-up and patrol
undertaking operational activities safely

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUAFIR201A Prevent injury
Co-requisite units:
Nil

Underpinning knowledge
fire behaviour
extinguishing media, water, foam, suppressants
knapsack
operating firefighting equipment
responding to wildfire
wildfire control tactics and techniques
wildfire hazards, safety techniques
fuel load, moisture content of fuel, topography, fireground signals
organisation's operating procedures
effects of wildfire on structures
awareness of health and fitness requirements

Underpinning skills
use of wildfire control tools and equipment
undertaking dry and wet wildfire attack
detection of hot spots, stags, unsecured wildfire perimeter

Resource implications
access to controlled or contained fires
availability of wildfire control equipment

Consistency of performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of assessment
A combination of oral or written presentation, observation
on the job or in a simulated wildfire (grass, crop, scrub, forest) environment.